Home / Science / Clouds Force Delay of Blue Origin's Landmark New Glenn Rocket Debut
Clouds Force Delay of Blue Origin's Landmark New Glenn Rocket Debut
10 Nov
Summary
- Blue Origin postpones launch of massive New Glenn rocket
- New Glenn set to propel NASA's ESCAPADE Mars mission
- Rocket's first stage designed for 25 reusable flights
On November 10, 2025, Blue Origin was poised to launch its massive New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on a mission to send NASA's ESCAPADE spacecraft on a journey to Mars. However, the launch was postponed due to clouds rolling into the area, forcing the company to call off the liftoff attempt.
The New Glenn, one of the largest active rockets in the world, was set to make only its second-ever flight, marking a significant milestone for Blue Origin. Designed to compete with SpaceX's Falcon rockets in the commercial spaceflight market, the 322-foot-tall rocket is built for reusability, with its first stage capable of up to 25 flights.
During the NG-2 mission, New Glenn was to propel NASA's twin ESCAPADE satellites, which are set to arrive in Martian orbit in 2027 and study the planet's solar winds and space weather. The launch was also slated to carry technology from telecommunications company Viasat that could be used for future NASA missions in low-Earth orbit.
Blue Origin is now targeting a new launch window on November 12, 2025, as the company works with the Federal Aviation Administration and the launch range to find the optimal time to lift off. The rocket needs to launch at a specific time of day to ensure the correct trajectory to Mars.
