NASA and Blue Origin Partner for New Glenn Rocket Testing at Stennis

NASA and Blue Origin have signed an agreement to conduct second-stage hot fire testing of the New Glenn rocket at the B-2 test stand at NASA's Stennis Space Center in Mississippi. The annex to a reimbursable Space Act Agreement, signed earlier in July 2026, was announced on July 24. Testing is targeted to begin this fall.

The partnership affects Blue Origin's development of the New Glenn rocket, which will be used for lunar missions under NASA's Artemis program. The B-2 test stand, built in the 1960s for Apollo Saturn V stages, will be prepared for testing the rocket's second stage, powered by two BE-3 engines using liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen, each generating 200,000 pounds of thrust in vacuum. NASA will provide engineers, equipment, and building services to modify the stand.

This matters because it directly supports NASA's goal of landing astronauts on the Moon and building a Moon Base near the lunar south pole, as well as preparing for future human missions to Mars. The Artemis III mission, building on the successful Artemis II flight from April 2026, will involve a multi-launch campaign testing rendezvous and docking of Orion with commercial landers from Blue Origin and SpaceX. Blue Origin's New Glenn will launch lunar landing missions.

Background: In May 2026, NASA announced the first three Moon Base missions, including an award to Blue Origin to launch a robotic mission this fall using its Blue Moon Mark 1 Endurance lander to deliver payloads to Shackleton Connecting Ridge. The B-2 stand previously tested Saturn V stages for Apollo and the SLS core stage for Artemis I.

Next steps: Blue Origin will work toward second-stage testing at Stennis, with NASA providing technical support and workspace. The testing aims to advance capabilities for Artemis missions in 2027 and beyond, with Artemis IV and V planned for 2028. Mississippi officials expressed hope the arrangement becomes long-term, broadening the state's role in space exploration.