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teleo-codex/entities/space-development/blue-origin-slc-36-pad-2.md
Teleo Agents b419c6bdd2 astra: extract claims from 2026-04-28-blue-origin-pad2-slc36-faa-npc-early-regulatory 
- Source: inbox/queue/2026-04-28-blue-origin-pad2-slc36-faa-npc-early-regulatory.md
- Domain: space-development
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- Extracted by: pipeline ingest (OpenRouter anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.5)

Pentagon-Agent: Astra <PIPELINE>
2026-05-01 00:48:48 +00:00

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Blue Origin SLC-36 Pad 2

Type: Launch infrastructure (proposed) Location: Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida Status: Early regulatory stage (FAA NPC filed) Parent Organization: Blue Origin

Overview

Proposed second launch pad at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, north of existing SLC-36. The facility would incorporate the former BE-4 engine test site (LC-11) that Blue Origin leased in 2016.

Timeline

  • 2016 — Blue Origin leased LC-11 (former BE-4 test site)
  • 2026-04-09 — Filed FAA Notice of Proposed Construction or Alteration
  • 2026-04-14 — Blue Origin secured Vandenberg SLC-14 lease (polar orbit capability)
  • 2026-04-19 — NG-3 failure and FAA grounding (10 days after NPC filing)

Development Status

The FAA NPC filing is an early procedural step that initiates review of whether the proposed structure would affect navigable airspace near an active aerodrome corridor. It is NOT a construction approval or groundbreaking signal.

Typical timeline from NPC to operational pad: 2-4 years minimum, including:

  • FAA airspace review
  • Environmental assessment (typically 12-18 months alone for Cape facilities)
  • Formal construction permits
  • Construction
  • Testing and operational qualification

Strategic Context

The Pad 2 filing occurred simultaneously with two other Blue Origin developments:

  1. Vandenberg SLC-14 lease approval (enabling polar orbit launches)
  2. NG-3 failure and subsequent FAA grounding

The NPC filing predates the NG-3 failure by 10 days, indicating it represents long-term infrastructure planning rather than a post-crisis confidence signal.

Competitive Position

As of April 2026:

  • SpaceX: Multiple operational pads (Starbase Pads 1 and 2, Vandenberg SLC-4E)
  • Blue Origin: One operational pad (SLC-36, currently grounded), early-stage regulatory filings for second pad

The infrastructure expansion demonstrates patient capital strategy and long-horizon planning, but the operational capability gap with SpaceX remains substantial.