Space Florida approved up to $24.2 million in state funding for Blue Origin's Project Horizon, a major expansion.

Space Florida approved up to $24.2 million in state funding for Blue Origin's Project Horizon, a major expansion. Blue Origin's project is expected to create 500 jobs and includes an 830,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. CEO Dave Limp stated that the company aims to resume flights before the end of the year. Blue Origin's expansion and rebuilding plans continue unabated on Florida's Space Coast in the wake of last week's tremendous New Glenn rocket explosion at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. On Tuesday, June 2, the Space Florida board of directors approved up to $24.2 million in state funding for Project Horizon, Blue Origin's major expansion of the company's ever-growing Rocket Park footprint near the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Project Horizon calls for construction of an 830,000-square-foot manufacturing facility for New Glenn upper stages, Gov. Ron DeSantis' office announced in a press release. “The project will increase volume and mass to orbit from Florida, as well as create 500 jobs plus a total of approximately $600 million in total capital investment,” Space Florida Interim Chief Investment Officer Ronald Lau said during the agency's June 2 board meeting at Orlando International Airport. The May 28 nighttime New Glenn explosion — which generated an orange mushroom-shaped cloud looming above the Space Force installation — inflicted widespread damages across Blue Origin's $1 billion-plus Launch Complex 36. However, four days later, CEO Dave Limp said "we will fly again before the end of this year." In a tweet, he reported the propellant farm; oxygen, liquid hydrogen and liquified-natural-gas tanks; and water tower were in good shape. “I think in this business, when you’re trying to do things that few in humankind really have ever done, you’re going to come across some of these challenges,” Space Florida President and CEO Rob Long told media after the board meeting. “And so, I think it speaks to the resilience of the system, of the spaceport itself, that we had two launches within 24 hours of the event last week,” Long said. Space Florida funding Blue Origin projects Asked about Space Florida's role in rebuilding Launch Complex 36, Long said, “we stand ready to support Blue Origin however possible within the tools that we have at our disposal." Space Florida approved Blue Origin's Project Horizon state funding via the Florida Department of Transportation's Spaceport Improvement Program, which funds infrastructure projects. In November, Space Florida approved similar agreements with Blue Origin and FDOT for: Up to $9.25 million to support construction of space-hardware assembly, refurbishment and test-processing infrastructure at Rocket Park. As part of that project, Blue Origin committed to $38 million in capital investment and creation of 175 high-wage jobs, agenda records show. Up to $6.5 million to construct a vertical integration and refurbishment facility. Up to $1.3 million for flight-rate improvements at LC-36. Up to $673,074 for design and construction of access improvements at North Cargo Berth 8 and State Road 401 at Port Canaveral. New KSC director: Blue has 'ambitious levels of innovation' Brian Hughes, NASA's newly appointed Kennedy Space Center director, addressed the Space Florida board. Saying "Blue Origin has ambitious levels of innovation,” he said his agency and the Department of War are rooting for the company to get back on its feet as quickly as possible to help fulfill mission-launch needs. “We’re working with folks that are doing very hard things. And that was reflected at LC-36 last week,” Hughes said. Though damages were "substantial" at Blue Origin's launch complex, he referenced Limp's goal to resume launches by year's end. “It is ambitious. But I would never count out the folks in those companies, because they have a pretty good record of turning ambition into action,” Hughes said. For the latest news and launch schedule from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and NASA's Kennedy Space Center, visit floridatoday.com/space. Another easy way: Click here to sign up for our weekly 321 Launch space newsletter. Rick Neale is a Space Reporter at FLORIDA TODAY,where he has covered news since 2004. Contact Neale [email protected]. Twitter/X: @RickNeale1

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