The U.S. Space Force has selected Blue Origin to construct a new state-of-the-art payload processing facility (PPF) at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, expanding America’s capacity to prepare spacecraft for launch. The project aims to strengthen the nation’s on-orbit capabilities and streamline the pre-launch process for military, commercial, and allied missions.
NASA’s SPHEREx (Spectro-Photometer for the History of the Universe, Epoch of Reionization and Ices Explorer), a space telescope, is situated on a work stand ahead of prelaunch operations at the Astrotech Processing Facility at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. Credit: BAE Systems/Benjamin Fry
The $78.25 million contract, awarded through the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) Space Vehicle Processing Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO) program, will see the facility built on Space Force property at Cape Canaveral rather than on Blue Origin’s nearby Rocket Park campus. Initial Operational Capability (IOC) is targeted for early 2028, according to Space Systems Command (SSC).
“This second CSO award reflects our continued commitment to meet both national security and commercial launch requirements,” said Col. Dan Highlander, Director of Operations Integration for SSC’s Assured Access to Space (AATS) directorate.
The Blue Origin agreement follows a similar $77.5 million contract awarded in April to Astrotech for a facility expansion at Vandenberg Space Force Base in California. SSC confirmed that the CSO contracting process closed on Sept. 30, after receiving 12 total proposals—five of which focused on Eastern Range needs.
Facility Capabilities and Mission Impact
The new PPF will support a variety of critical pre-launch operations including battery charging, satellite fueling, encapsulation, and handling of hazardous materials. Blue Origin will construct a “clean, secure, specialized high-bay facility” equipped to manage flight hardware, toxic fuels, and explosive materials.
Once operational, the facility is expected to accommodate up to 16 missions per year, including seven to eight additional NSSL missions. “This additional capacity will ensure the USSF is able to continue to deliver responsive and resilient launch capabilities to the warfighter,” Highlander added. “The public-private partnership behind this effort enables us to share costs with commercial industry to our mutual benefit.”
Although Blue Origin will lead the project, the facility will be open to all launch providers participating in the NSSL program. That includes SpaceX and United Launch Alliance (ULA), which were both recently selected for the second order year of the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 2 contract.
In addition, newer entrants such as Rocket Lab and Stoke Space—onboarded in March under the NSSL Phase 3 Lane 1 contract—will also be eligible to use the facility. SpaceX won the first two Launch Service Task Orders (LSTOs) under that program in October 2024, valued at $733.6 million combined.
Rocket Lab is preparing to debut its Neutron rocket from Virginia’s Mid-Atlantic Regional Spaceport later this year, while Stoke Space aims for its first Nova launch from Cape Canaveral’s historic Launch Complex 14 in 2026.
A Blue Origin spokesperson expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration, stating, “We are proud to work with the U.S. Space Force Space Systems Command to construct a new Payload Processing Facility supporting multiple launch vehicle providers on Florida’s Space Coast. This partnership will enhance our operational efficiency and expand capacity to support a higher launch cadence.”
According to SSC, the Space Force intends to extend existing interagency agreements with the National Reconnaissance Office and NASA—covering the use of their respective payload processing facilities—to include the new Blue Origin-built complex. The facility will also be available for commercial use, allowing Blue Origin to serve both private-sector and government customers.
Looking ahead, additional requirements for payload processing infrastructure will be reviewed as part of the U.S. Space Force’s Fiscal Year 2026 budget appropriations.
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