Kent-Based Blue Origin Returning Florida Launch Complex 36 to 2 Pads
Aug 13, 2026, 9:07 AM
South Sound Business
Originally published on South Sound Business.
Kent-based Blue Origin provided an update and renderings Wednesday on its launchpad work at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida following a May explosion of a New Glenn rocket during a hot-fire test at Launch Complex 36.
Blue Origin is developing Launch Complex 36B to support New Glenn’s 9×4 vehicle, a super-heavy class version of the rocket, and is constructing additional infrastructure nearby to support high-cadence launch operations and infrastructure resiliency for New Glenn.
Launch Complex 36 has been a cornerstone of American spaceflight for decades, supporting missions for NASA and commercial partners, Blue Origin said in its news post.
“Now, this historic site is entering a new era, furthering New Glenn operations,” the company said.
LC-36B will serve as the operational home for New Glenn 9×4, whose first stage booster will be powered by nine engines and its second stage by four engines. The second stage will carry 70 metric tons to low Earth orbit, 14 metric tons to geostationary orbit direct, and 20 metric tons to trans lunar injection, according to New Glenn’s website, noting 9×4 supports demand for larger commercial mega-constellations, lunar, and deep space exploration, and national security missions.
The 9×4 is nearly 400 feet tall and its fairing packs 29,000 cubic feet of volume, nearly 70% more than New Glenn’s 7×2 configuration.
LC-36A remains the operational home for the New Glenn 7×2 vehicle, whose first stage booster is powered by seven engines and its second stage by two engines. It can carry more than 13 metric tons to geostationary transfer orbit and 45 metric tons to low Earth orbit, according to Blue Origin’s website.
Blue Origin’s additional infrastructure a Launch Complex 36 includes a new vertical integration facility for the 9×4 vehicle, and a payload processing facility. Built in partnership with the U.S. government, the payload processing facility will support both variants of New Glenn and national security space launch providers, Wednesday’s post said.
