Home / Science / Blue Origin Launches New Glenn Rocket, Delivers NASA Satellites to Mars
Blue Origin Launches New Glenn Rocket, Delivers NASA Satellites to Mars
14 Nov
Summary
- Blue Origin's giant New Glenn rocket launched from Florida on debut flight
- Carried two NASA satellites to Mars for 22-month voyage and 11-month study
- Milestone for Bezos' company as it competes with SpaceX in the space race
On November 14, 2025, the Blue Origin space venture of billionaire Jeff Bezos launched its giant New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida. This was the rocket's debut flight for paying customers, carrying two NASA satellites on their way to Mars.
The powerful two-stage rocket, standing 32 stories tall, blasted off in a roar of flames and billowing clouds of vapor. If all goes as planned, the reusable first-stage booster will separate from the rocket's upper stage and attempt to land on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean.
The primary mission involves NASA's twin EscaPADE spacecraft, designed to orbit Mars in tandem and analyze how solar winds interact with the planet's magnetic field and atmosphere. The satellites, dubbed Blue and Gold, were built by Rocket Lab and will embark on a 22-month voyage to Mars before beginning their 11-month orbital study.
This launch marks a significant milestone for Blue Origin, as it transitions from a space tourism business to competing on a more equal footing with Elon Musk's SpaceX, the world's most active rocket launch service. The successful delivery of a NASA science payload is a key step in Blue Origin's quest to become a major player in the commercial space industry.
