NASA has stepped in to host critical second stage hot fire testing for Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket at the historic B-2 test stand in Mississippi. The agreement comes as Blue Origin rebuilds its primary launchpad following a failure, while both companies race toward aggressive Artemis III lunar rendezvous demonstrations in 2027.
When a private aerospace company loses its primary launch infrastructure, recovery requires extraordinary measures. Following an accident that destroyed its only compatible launchpad for the New Glenn rocket, Blue Origin has secured a lifeline from the federal government to keep its development timeline moving forward according to reporting on the facility retrofit.
Stennis Space Center B-2 Test Stand Retooled for Private Spaceflight
The historic B-2 test stand at the Stennis Space Center near Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, was agreed upon in an annex to a reimbursable Space Act Agreement signed by NASA and Blue Origin. The facility will undergo comprehensive retrofitting to accommodate hot fire testing for the upper stage of the New Glenn rocket. Testing is targeted to begin this fall.
This arrangement marks a notable departure for the legendary test stand. Originally constructed during the Apollo program to test the Saturn V rocket stages that carried humans to the Moon, the stand later accommodated Space Shuttle propulsion testing and, more recently, the Green Run test series for the Space Launch System core stage used in the Artemis I test flight. While government-owned hardware traditionally dominated the site, the New Glenn upper stage marks the first time a private rocket will utilize the storied location.
“Winning the new space race means moving faster and working alongside a strong commercial industry.”
Jared Isaacman, NASA Administrator
Under the agreement, NASA will provide essential engineering talent, specialized equipment, and building services to construct and install the infrastructure necessary for the second stage testing. The rocket’s second stage relies on two BE-3 engines utilizing liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen propellants, with each engine generating 200,000 pounds of thrust in a vacuum. In addition to hardware support, NASA personnel will share decades of propulsion testing expertise derived from decades of lunar mission preparations at the Mississippi facility.
“Stennis helped take Americans to the Moon, and through this partnership, it will help take us back.”
Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin
Artemis III Prepares for Complex Multi-Rocket Orbital Demonstrations
The partnership feeds directly into the demanding schedule of the Artemis III mission, slated for 2027.
During the demonstration, Artemis III crews traveling aboard NASA’s Orion spacecraft will execute rendezvous and docking sequences with uncrewed test articles provided by both commercial partners. SpaceX will utilize a Version 3 Starship configuration equipped with a nose-mounted docking system, while Blue Origin will fly a test lander based on its Mark 2 architecture.
The mission logistics require launching three of the world’s most powerful rockets in rapid succession across multiple U.S. launch pads.
Regional Impact and Future Lunar Infrastructure Plans
Federal lawmakers representing Mississippi praised the partnership for bolstering both regional employment and national space leadership. Sen. Roger Wicker noted that Stennis continues to be a hub for the commercial space industry
, while Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith expressed hope that the arrangement develops into a long-term commitment. Rep. Mike Ezell added that the B-2 test stand capabilities will support high-skilled jobs in the region.
Beyond the immediate upper stage testing, Blue Origin maintains an active pipeline of uncrewed missions supporting NASA’s goal of establishing a permanent base near the lunar South Pole. The company secured an award in May to launch its Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander on a robotic mission this fall, delivering agency payloads to the Shackleton Connecting Ridge to de-risk future human landings scheduled for Artemis IV and V.
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