NASA has added Blue Origin's New Glenn 9×4 launch service to its NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract. The service is now available to NASA's Launch Services Program Office for future missions. The addition was made under the contract's on-ramp clause.
How the NLS II contract works
- Contract type: multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts.
- Ordering period: through June 2030, with an overall period of performance through December 2032.
- On-ramp: once a year, new launch service providers can compete for future missions, and existing contractors can add launch vehicles that are not yet on their contracts.
- Users: the contracts support NASA's Human Spaceflight, Science and Research and Technology Mission Directorates. NASA can also provide launch services to other government agencies, such as NOAA.
NASA's Launch Services Program Office at Kennedy Space Center in Florida manages the NLS II contracts.
New Glenn and NASA
New Glenn has already flown for NASA. On 13 November 2025, a New Glenn rocket launched NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, according to NASA. The cover image shows the ESCAPADE spacecraft during processing in 2024. NASA's release does not describe the technical differences of the 9×4 configuration.
Why it matters
The on-ramp mechanism steadily widens the choice of rockets for NASA missions. Earlier in September, NASA added Relativity Space's Terran R to the same contract. More heavy and medium lift options mean more competition and more flexibility in matching missions to vehicles.
Frequently asked questions
What is NASA Launch Services II?
A set of multiple-award, indefinite-delivery, indefinite-quantity contracts through which NASA buys launch services. The ordering period runs through June 2030.
Has New Glenn launched a NASA mission before?
Yes. According to NASA, New Glenn launched the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft on 13 November 2025 from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral.
Related reading
- NASA Adds Relativity Space’s Terran R to Its Launch Services Contract
- Reusable Rockets: How Booster Landings Changed the Launch Market
- Space Transport Companies: Latest News and Updates (September 2026)
Sources
- NASA: NASA Adds Blue Origin New Glenn 9×4 to Launch Services Contract
- NASA Image Library: NASA's ESCAPADE Launch on Blue Origin's NG-2
Cover image: NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft during processing at the Astrotech Space Operations Facility near Kennedy Space Center, 22 August 2024. Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett (KSC-20240822-PH-KLS01_0033), public domain.