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AFIT EWI Fellow visits Blue Origin’s Orbital Launch Site

Posted Thursday, December 05, 2019

 

By Captain Wrendy Rayhill
AFIT, Education with Industry Fellow – Blue Origin
 


Drone shot of NASA LSP Tour Group at Blue Origin (Courtesy photo)

 

Cape Canaveral, FL – Air Force Institute of Technology Education with Industry Fellow, Captain Wrendy Rayhill, assigned to Blue Origin in Kent, WA, visited the company’s Manufacturing Complex and Launch Site at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, FL on 29-30 October 2019. 

During her visit, Capt Rayhill was able to attend the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Launch Service Program (LSP) Customer Forum at the Kennedy Space Center.  NASA’s LSP was formed in 1998 with the goal of bringing together payloads needing a ride to space and launch vehicle providers. NASA LSP works to satisfy agency-wide space transportation requirements as well as to maximize the opportunities for mission success. During the LSP Customer Forum, NASA customers received informational briefs from the various launch service providers, including Blue Origin.

On the second and final day of the visit, Blue Origin hosted a portion of the LSP Customer Forum attendees for a tour of the Manufacturing Complex as well as the Space Launch Complex (SLC)-36 site. The group was able to walk through the New Glenn production facility, which is home to impressive technology-ridden manufacturing equipment. Additionally the tour showcased the Launch Control Center and the Mission Control Center, both located in the Manufacturing Complex building, where mission operations will be conducted. The group ended their tour visiting SLC-36 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, which is currently under construction. The Blockhouse Annex, a remnant of the site’s Atlas-Centaur days, remains at LC-36 and provides a high vantage point overlooking the site. On top of the Blockhouse Annex, the group heard about the future layout of the launch pad and current on-going construction projects.

Captain Rayhill was able to meet with key stakeholders and leave Orbital Launch Site with a better understanding of the New Glenn production process and ground operations.

 

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