Blue Origin Delays New Glenn Rocket launch Carrying NASA Mars Probes
Cape Canaveral, Florida – Blue Origin, teh space company founded by Jeff Bezos, postponed the launch of it’s New Glenn rocket on Sunday, halting a mission intended to deliver two NASA probes to Mars. The delay stemmed from a combination of unfavorable weather conditions and a technical issue at the Cape Canaveral launch pad.
Initial delays occurred Sunday afternoon due to rain and a technical problem.Strengthening cumulus cloud cover ultimately forced a postponement as the 88-minute launch window closed.
blue Origin announced Sunday evening that, in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), a new launch attempt is scheduled for Wednesday between 2:50 p.m. and 4:17 p.m. local time (8:50 p.m. and 10:17 p.m. in Paris).
The New Glenn rocket, standing 98 meters tall, is tasked with deploying two NASA ESCAPADE space probes – Blue and Gold – to orbit Mars.These probes will study the red planet’s climate history and contribute to preparations for potential future human exploration.
This launch represents a critical test for Blue Origin, notably its ability to recover the rocket’s first stage – a feat currently only accomplished by SpaceX. While the New Glenn’s inaugural flight in January successfully placed equipment into orbit, the first stage recovery attempt failed.
The launch attempt comes amid a 40-day budgetary impasse within the U.S. federal government, which is impacting the FAA. Air traffic controllers are currently unpaid, and the FAA is set to limit commercial rocket launches starting Monday.
The competition between Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX is intensifying as NASA prepares to issue bids for future lunar missions,with SpaceX facing scrutiny for recent delays.
