Blue Origin Advances Toward New Glenn Launches at Vandenberg Space Force Base
VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. (AP) — The U.S. Space Force has selected Blue Origin to proceed toward a lease for developing Space Launch Complex 14 at Vandenberg Space Force Base, officials announced April 15, 2026. The decision marks a milestone for Blue Origin's first launch site in California. Col. James Horne III, commander of Space Launch Delta 30, revealed the down-selection during a media roundtable at the Space Symposium.
The move supports the National Security Space Launch program by expanding heavy and super-heavy launch capabilities on the West Coast, according to Space Force officials. Space Launch Delta 30 issued a request for information in December 2025 to assess interest from launch providers. Blue Origin emerged as the selected company after the evaluation process. The company will fund development of the launch pad up to the site's fence line, while the Space Force provides roads and essential services.
Space Launch Complex 14 is a green field site with no existing infrastructure near the south end of Vandenberg Space Force Base, officials said. The base, established in the 1950s and redesignated as a Space Force base, hosts launches into polar orbits. This development addresses capacity needs for national security payloads, Horne stated.
"The down-selection of Blue Origin to continue in the process for final determination of a lease at SLC-14 represents a critical milestone at the Vandenberg Spaceport," Horne said, according to Spaceflight Now.
Blue Origin plans to launch its New Glenn rocket from the site. The New Glenn measures about 98 meters tall and serves as a heavy-lift vehicle. The announcement came days before Blue Origin's scheduled third New Glenn launch from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, sources indicated.
"By taking the next steps to further develop heavy and super-heavy space launch capabilities at SLC-14, we’re continuing to unleash our capacity to execute full-spectrum space operations for the nation," Horne added, per Spaceflight Now.
The Space Force aims to accelerate infrastructure work to the fence line to enable launches as soon as possible, officials explained. "From a Space Force perspective, we provide the roads, how to use the services that the company needs to launch. They invest in and spend their own money developing their pad to the fence line. Our job is to get to that fence line. So, you’ll see us rapidly accelerating to get there to enable launch as soon as possible," Horne said at the roundtable, according to Spaceflight Now.
Blue Origin began flight-testing New Glenn in 2025. The rocket's first operational mission, carrying NASA's ESCAPADE Mars probes, attempted launch in November 2025 from Cape Canaveral but faced delays due to weather and ground issues, according to reports. Florida remains the primary site for New Glenn operations, with Vandenberg expansion targeting polar and sun-synchronous orbits suited for government satellites.
Vandenberg already supports launches by other providers. SpaceX operates Falcon 9 rockets from Space Launch Complex 4E at the base, records show. The addition of Blue Origin diversifies options for the National Security Space Launch program, which awarded contracts in 2022 to Blue Origin, United Launch Alliance and SpaceX for Phase 3 requirements.
Officials did not specify a timeline for final lease approval or construction start at Space Launch Complex 14. Blue Origin deferred comment on specifics to the company, per Space Force statements. No details emerged on potential environmental reviews or permitting processes for the site.
The development aligns with broader U.S. Space Force efforts to build resilience through multiple providers. This push follows increased demand for launches amid growth in satellite constellations like Starlink and government systems. Budget allocations for spaceports rose in 2026, supporting such expansions, officials noted.
Blue Origin's manifest includes more than 25 missions for New Glenn, though exact payloads for the third launch remained undisclosed as of April 15, 2026. The company faced earlier delays, with New Glenn's first flight slipping to late 2024 before becoming operational in 2025.
Space Force leaders emphasized the strategic value of West Coast sites for national security. Vandenberg provides trajectories unavailable from Florida, enhancing mission flexibility. The down-selection positions Blue Origin to compete more directly with established players like SpaceX and United Launch Alliance at the base.
No competitors responded publicly to the request for information, and officials did not confirm interest from other firms. The process moves to final lease determination, with potential for Blue Origin to begin pad construction once approved.
Images from Cape Canaveral showed New Glenn prepared for its third launch, highlighting the rocket's progress amid the California milestone. Space Force officials expect the Vandenberg site to boost overall U.S. heavy-lift capacity to more than 50 annual launches by 2027, though projections depend on development timelines.
The announcement underscores ongoing advancements in commercial space launch infrastructure. Blue Origin's expansion to Vandenberg follows years of investment in New Glenn, aimed at serving commercial, NASA and defense customers. Officials anticipate the site will support a range of orbital missions once operational.
