Ramona Adams
Blue Origin has received a spot on NASA‘s contract for suborbital reusable launch vehicle flight and payload integration services with a maximum combined value of $45 million.
NASA said Friday Blue Origin will work to integrate payloads into its New Shepard suborbital rocket and fly the spacecraft near the boundary of space as part of NASA’s Flight Opportunities Program.
Blue Origins is the sixth company selected to bid on task orders, which must commence within the contract’s three-year performance period, the space agency added.
Steve Jurczyk, NASA associate administrator for the space technology mission directorate, said the addition of providers will help the agency develop, demonstrate and transition space technologies at optimized costs.
The award continues previous contracts given in 2014 and 2015 and aids the addition of new flight profiles annually or as determined by the government, NASA noted.
STMD tests technologies from industry, academia and government on commercial launch vehicles under the Flight Opportunities Program.
Other providers under the IDIQ include:
- Masten Space Systems
- Near Space Corporation
- UP Aerospace
- Virgin Galactic
- World View Enterprises
Blue Origin is a spaceflight systems provider that is owned by Amazon.com founder and CEO Jeff Bezos.
