Blue Origin plans to continue expansion across Florida's Space Coast with construction of a new refurbishment facility near its New Glenn rocket launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, reports Florida Today.
The future facility, code-named Project Alpha, will be on 30 acres near Blue Origin's Launch Complex 36 and will reportedly be used to repair, rebuild and reuse large and small rocket components. New Glenn rockets stand about 320 feet tall, and the first-stage boosters are designed to make at least 25 flights
“Our New Glenn roadmap includes adding additional refurbishment capabilities at Cape Canaveral to support a higher launch cadence and meet customer needs," a Blue Origin spokesperson said of Project Alpha in an email to Florida Today.
Blue Origin now employs nearly 4,000 people in Brevard County.
News of Project Alpha comes on the heels of two more Blue Origin expansion announcements:
- In September, the Titusville City Council approved a conditional-use permit for a Blue Origin light manufacturing facility southwest of Space Coast Regional Airport. The project is slated to create about 100 new jobs.
- On Oct. 7, Space Force officials announced Blue Origin was awarded a $78.25 million contract to process spacecraft for national security launches by 2028 from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.
“This partnership will enhance Blue Origin’s capabilities to operate more efficiently and expand our capacity to support a higher launch cadence to meet customer needs," a company spokesperson said.