Space Florida’s board approved $24.4 million for Blue Origin’s Project Horizon during a Tuesday meeting, moving forward with funding despite the recent explosion of the company’s New Glenn rocket. The vote occurred nearly a week after the test launch ended in a fiery mishap near Cape Canaveral, which temporarily halted planned launches. Blue Origin’s CEO has said the company aims to resume launches by year’s end. The board’s decision came with little discussion of the incident. ‘Board members have any questions or concerns?’ the chair asked. ‘None,’ one member replied. The funding will support a new manufacturing facility expected to expand Spaceport Florida’s capabilities and create 500 jobs, according to Space Florida’s meeting agenda. The project could also bring $600 million in capital investments to Brevard County. ‘Project Horizon demonstrates our partnership with Blue Origin and Florida’s commitment to invest in spaceport infrastructure for the long haul,’ said Space Florida Director David Jenkins during the meeting. The approval follows a March announcement about the facility, which officials said would help overcome current limitations at the spaceport. Blue Origin has faced challenges since the explosion, but the company remains focused on its goals. ‘Space is truly hard,’ said one supporter during the meeting, noting the difficulty of rocket development. The funding comes as Blue Origin works to address technical issues with the New Glenn, which is designed to compete with SpaceX’s Starship and other heavy-lift vehicles. The company’s expansion plans include upgrading infrastructure at the spaceport to handle more launches. Local officials have emphasized that the investment reinforces Florida’s role as a hub for space transportation. ‘We’re grateful for their continued partnership,’ Jenkins said. ‘This helps sustain Florida’s place as a global leader in the industry.’