Blue Origin Files Protest Over Launch Pad 39A Contract | Aero-News Network
Aero-News Network
RSS icon RSS feed
podcast icon MP3 podcast
Subscribe Aero-News e-mail Newsletter Subscribe

Airborne Unlimited -- Most Recent Daily Episodes

Episode Date

Airborne-Monday

Airborne-Tuesday

Airborne-Wednesday Airborne-Thursday

Airborne-Friday

Airborne On YouTube

Airborne-Unlimited-04.22.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.16.24

Airborne-FlightTraining-04.17.24 Airborne-AffordableFlyers-04.18.24

Airborne-Unlimited-04.19.24

Join Us At 0900ET, Friday, 4/10, for the LIVE Morning Brief.
Watch It LIVE at
www.airborne-live.net

Wed, Sep 11, 2013

Blue Origin Files Protest Over Launch Pad 39A Contract

Hopes To Block Exclusive Use By Any Launch Company, Wants Shared-Use Agreement

Commercial space company Blue Origin has filed a formal bid protest with the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to prevent NASA from awarding an exclusive lease for any company to have the use of Launch Pad 39A at the Kennedy Space Center.

NASA has not announced a lease partner for the retired launch complex, but it is widely rumored that SpaceX has the inside track for the use of the pad that launched Apollo and shuttle missions into orbit.

Florida Today reports that five U.S. Senators have written to NASA Administrator Charles Bolden to say that the use of the asset should not be limited to a single company. Among those signing the letter was Patty Murray, a Senator from Washington State where Blue Origin is based.

Blue Origin, which was founded by Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos, had placed a bid that would have refurbished the currently-unused pad for use by multiple space launch companies. Bezos' Blue Origin does not expect to have a vehicle ready for launch before 2018. NASA does not plan to use Pad 39A for future launches of Orion or other missions, relying exclusively on Pad 39B for heavy-lift launches.

The protest will at least delay a decision on a lease deal until mid-December when the GAO makes a ruling, and could have a direct impact on which companies can use the launch complex.

NASA spokesman David Weaver said that the agency was following selection process that is "open and fair" which will "ensure the best value for the taxpayers."

FMI: www.nasa.gov, www.gao.gov, www.blueorigin.com

Advertisement

More News

Airborne 04.16.24: RV Update, Affordable Flying Expo, Diamond Lil

Also: B-29 Superfortress Reunion, FAA Wants Controllers, Spirit Airlines Pulls Back, Gogo Galileo Van's Aircraft posted a short video recapping the goings-on around their reorganiz>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.20.24): Light Gun

Light Gun A handheld directional light signaling device which emits a brilliant narrow beam of white, green, or red light as selected by the tower controller. The color and type of>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.20.24)

"The journey to this achievement started nearly a decade ago when a freshly commissioned Gentry, driven by a fascination with new technologies and a desire to contribute significan>[...]

Aero-News: Quote of the Day (04.21.24)

"Our driven and innovative team of military and civilian Airmen delivers combat power daily, ensuring our nation is ready today and tomorrow." Source: General Duke Richardson, AFMC>[...]

ANN's Daily Aero-Term (04.21.24): Aircraft Conflict

Aircraft Conflict Predicted conflict, within EDST of two aircraft, or between aircraft and airspace. A Red alert is used for conflicts when the predicted minimum separation is 5 na>[...]

blog comments powered by Disqus



Advertisement

Advertisement

Podcasts

Advertisement

© 2007 - 2024 Web Development & Design by Pauli Systems, LC