Blue Origin doubling launch pads at LC 36 following New Glenn Explosion: 'Picking up the speed'

Just months after a massive explosion rocked Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, new details reveal Blue Origin isn't just fixing the damaged launch site—it’s actually doubling the size of its footprint at Launch Complex 36. Blue Origin is constructing two distinct launch pads to support two different sizes of its flagship New Glenn rocket right down the road from one another.Blue Origin expansionThe expansion centered at Launch Complex 36 will allow Blue Origin to fly both of its rocket configurations.

While Launch Complex 36A will serve as the operational home for the smaller variant, the newly announced Launch Complex 36B is being constructed specifically for New Glenn's larger vehicle.Space industry analysts say having two pads for different rocket sizes offers critical operational flexibility."It gives them some variability with their customers," said Zac Aubert, who’s the CEO of the Launch Pad Network.

"Why would you have kind of a medium and a large vehicle?