Blue Origin: Enabling Remote Rocket Launch Production at Scale
How LiveU technology supported the Broadcast Management Group’s REMI workflow across multiple Blue Origin missions.
Background
When Broadcast Management Group set out to centralize production for Blue Origin’s live rocket launches, the challenge wasn’t just scale. It was geography. Launch sites, mission control, manufacturing facilities, studios, and mobile platforms were spread across the United States, many in locations with little to no fixed infrastructure.
To make a remote production (REMI)-based production model viable, BMG needed a reliable way to bring high-quality video from these remote locations back to its Network Operations Center in Washington, D.C. LiveU became a key enabling technology in that workflow.
The Challenge
Blue Origin’s launch coverage required:
* Live contribution from remote and infrastructure-limited locations
* High-quality, low-latency video suitable for broadcast
* Redundant transmission paths for mission-critical feeds
* The ability to scale from dozens to more than 50 live camera feeds
Traditional transmission methods alone could not support every camera position, especially those located far from fiber access or in highly mobile environments.
The Solution
BMG integrated LiveU into its REMI production workflow to support remote contribution and redundancy across multiple Blue Origin missions.
LiveU units were deployed at launch sites, manufacturing facilities, mobile camera positions, and other hard-to-reach locations, allowing BMG to reliably transmit live video back to its centralized production infrastructure. These feeds were then combined with other IP and fiber sources inside BMG’s Network Operations Center, where switching, graphics, replay, audio, and shading were handled remotely.
By using LiveU as part of a broader transmission strategy, BMG was able to extend its production reach without increasing on-site crew or infrastructure.
From New Shepard to New Glenn
LiveU-supported workflows were first used during Blue Origin’s New Shepard missions, where BMG transitioned from a traditional, truck-heavy approach on NS-31 to their proprietary REMI model for NS-32 and 33. The same LiveU-enabled contribution strategy was later scaled for the NG-2 launch, which integrated more than 50 live feeds from five locations nationwide.
Despite the increase in scale and complexity, the underlying approach remained the same: use LiveU to bring remote cameras into a centralized production environment with broadcast reliability.
Results
Reliable live contribution from remote and mobile camera positions
Reduced on-site crew and infrastructure requirements
Scalable REMI workflows supporting up to 50+ live feeds
Redundant transmission paths for mission-critical broadcasts
Conclusion
For BMG, LiveU played a critical role in making large-scale remote rocket launch production possible. By enabling high-quality video contribution from some of the most challenging locations in the country,
LiveU supported a centralized REMI workflow that scaled from New Shepard missions to the New Glenn launch without sacrificing reliability.
“As our launch coverage scaled from New Shepard to New Glenn, LiveU gave us the confidence to grow from dozens to more than 50 live feeds while maintaining broadcast-quality reliability”
Todd Mason, Chief Executive Officer at Broadcast Management Group (BMG).