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Luxembourg, 17 December 2020. – The U.S. space agency NASA has awarded a NASA Launch Services (NLS) II contract to Blue Origin and its New Glenn rocket, the agency announced.
“The New Glenn launch service will be available to NASA’s Launch Services Program to use for future missions in accordance with the on-ramp provision of NLS II,” NASA said.
“The NLS II is a multiple-supplier, multiple-award, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract vehicle with an ordering period through June 2025 and an overall period of performance through December 2027. Each supplier that is a part of NLS II has its own individual contract with LSP. The NLS II on-ramp provision provides an opportunity annually for new launch service providers to be added as a potential supplier and to compete for future NASA missions.”
The provision also allows existing NLS II launch service providers to introduce launch vehicles not currently on its NLS II contract, NASA said.
The NLS II contracts support the goals and objectives of the agency’s Science Mission Directorate, Human Exploration and Operations Mission Directorate, and the Space Technology Mission Directorate. NASA can also provide launch services to other government agencies, such as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
