Blue Origin asks to increase New Glenn launches to 50 per year

Blue Origin is asking federal regulators to allow up to 50 launches of its New Glenn rocket each year from the Space Coast, a proposal that could bring more launch-day crowds, traffic and emergency planning demands to Brevard County. It’s also the same rocket that exploded on its launchpad in May.The Federal Aviation Administration is reviewing the request, which would more than quadruple the rocket’s current launch limit. At Jetty Park, one of Brevard County’s prime launch-viewing locations, residents and visitors are used to seeing crowds gather when rockets lift off from nearby Cape Canaveral. Some longtime residents said they welcome the growth.“Oh, I’m fine with it,” said Clara Bandemer, who has lived in Brevard County for almost 29 years. “That’s technology that’s coming, you know? We should all be happy about it.”Bandemer said launch days are among her favorite parts of living on the Space Coast.“We’re getting more and more people every year,” she said. “It’s nice to see anythin