Blue Origin Postpones New Glenn Rocket Launch Due To Bad Weather

Blue Origin, the space company founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was forced to postpone the much-anticipated launch of its New Glenn rocket on Sunday after a combination of poor weather and technical

issues disrupted the countdown. The rocket’s second mission was delayed first by rain and a ground system malfunction, and later by heavy cloud cover that formed as the 88-minute launch window closed. Mission managers ultimately had no choice but to scrub the launch and reschedule it for later this week. The 322-foot (98-meter) New Glenn rocket was slated to carry NASA’s ESCAPADE twin spacecraft to Mars. The mission aims to study the Red Planet’s magnetosphere and atmosphere to better understand its climate history, crucial research for future human exploration efforts. Blue Origin said the launch will now be attempted again as soon as Wednesday, with a revised window between 2:50 p.m. and 4:17 p.m. ET (1950–2117 GMT), in coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Beyond its scientific mission, the launch marks a key technical test for Blue Origin. The company is attempting once again to recover its reusable first-stage booster, a feat achieved successfully so far only by Elon Musk’s SpaceX.
During New Glenn’s inaugural flight in January, while the rocket’s payload reached orbit and completed all planned tests, the booster failed to land on its recovery platform in the Atlantic Ocean and was lost during descent. A successful recovery this time would mark a breakthrough for Blue Origin’s reusability ambitions.

Industry experts say the outcome will be a critical measure of Blue Origin’s progress as it seeks to close the gap with SpaceX. “This launch will show how much progress they’ve really made,” said aerospace executive George Nield, speaking to AFP, who has previously flown with Blue Origin. Meanwhile, Cornell University professor and former NASA chief technologist Mason Peck said competition between Musk and Bezos “can only benefit innovation,” adding, “More launches mean more ideas in space.”

The FAA, which oversees US commercial spaceflights, has temporarily limited rocket launches to reduce airspace congestion during the ongoing federal government shutdown. Despite the delay, Blue Origin said it remains ready to try again midweek, weather permitting.

-With inputs from agencies