-
17:00
-
16:40
-
16:20
-
16:00
-
15:40
-
15:20
-
15:00
-
14:40
-
14:20
-
14:00
-
13:50
-
13:30
-
13:20
-
13:00
-
12:50
-
12:20
-
11:50
-
11:20
-
10:50
-
10:20
-
09:50
-
09:20
-
08:50
-
08:20
-
07:50
Blue Origin advances Mars ambitions with successful New Glenn launch and booster recovery
The New Glenn rocket, developed by Jeff Bezos' aerospace company Blue Origin, successfully completed its second flight on Thursday, marking a significant breakthrough for the company. Launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida, the rocket carried two NASA satellites destined for Mars while achieving its first successful booster landing at sea.
The mission marks Blue Origin’s debut delivery of a NASA payload, advancing its competition with Elon Musk’s SpaceX, the dominant player in the commercial spaceflight industry. The reusable first-stage booster, dubbed "Never Tell Me the Odds" in a nod to the "Star Wars" franchise, safely landed on a barge named Jacklyn, stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. This accomplishment follows a failed landing attempt during New Glenn's maiden flight in January.
Delivering NASA’s EscaPADE mission to Mars
The rocket's primary mission was to deploy NASA's twin EscaPADE satellites, Blue and Gold, into space. These spacecraft are set to embark on a 22-month journey to Mars, where they will spend nearly a year studying the planet's space weather environment. The mission will focus on solar wind interactions with Mars' weak magnetic field and its effects on atmospheric depletion. The findings aim to shed light on Mars’ transformation from a warm, habitable planet to the arid desert world it is today.
The EscaPADE satellites were built by Rocket Lab, with critical instruments provided by the University of California, Berkeley. This mission represents a significant step for Blue Origin as it transitions from space tourism to more complex scientific and commercial ventures.
A competitive edge in the space race
The New Glenn rocket, named after astronaut John Glenn, is designed to handle heavy-lift missions and boasts greater cargo capacity than SpaceX's Falcon 9 or Falcon Heavy rockets. Powered by seven BE-4 engines, the rocket also provides twice the thrust of a Falcon 9 at liftoff. NASA spent $55 million on the EscaPADE mission, with $18 million allocated to Blue Origin for the flight.
Blue Origin is also developing other projects, such as a crewed lunar lander for NASA's Artemis program and a private space station in collaboration with industry partners. Despite these advancements, the company faces a steep challenge in matching SpaceX’s dominance. SpaceX has conducted nearly 280 launches in the past two years, supported by its robust Starlink satellite network and its next-generation Starship rocket.
Thursday’s mission underscores Blue Origin’s progress in the commercial space industry, with a focus on reusability and scientific exploration. As competition escalates, the company seeks to cement its place among the leading players in space innovation.
