Blue Origin Prepares for Second Launch of New Glenn Rocket
Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, is gearing up for the second launch of its super heavy-lift rocket, New Glenn. The company recently announced that the launch is scheduled for Sunday, November 9, from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Florida.
A Look Back at New Glenn’s First Flight
In January, New Glenn embarked on its maiden flight, which saw the rocket’s second stage successfully reaching orbit. However, the first stage encountered an issue during its return to Earth, resulting in an explosion before Blue Origin could attempt to land it on a drone ship in the ocean.
Delays and Precautions for the Second Launch
Initially planned for a “late spring” launch, the second flight of New Glenn faced several delays. Blue Origin is taking extra precautions this time around, especially since the rocket will be carrying cargo for paying customers. Among the primary payloads are NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, bound for Mars, along with a Viasat tech demonstrator.
With the upcoming launch, Blue Origin is aiming for a successful mission that will further demonstrate the capabilities of its New Glenn rocket.