[UPDATE: Blue Origin scrubbed Wednesday’s launch due to the possible detrimental effects of an incoming solar storm on the ESCAPADE spacecraft. A new launch date has yet to be announced.]
Blue Origin is close to launching its New Glenn rocket on only its second flight, marking the company’s first interplanetary voyage and also its debut operational mission for NASA. It’s also aiming for its first successful booster landing, following a failed attempt earlier this year.
With final preparations now underway for the NG-2 mission, Blue Origin is targeting Wednesday, November 12, for liftoff from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral in Florida, sending NASA’s twin ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft on their way to Mars.
The first stage of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is powered by seven BE-4 engines fueled by liquid oxygen and liquefied natural gas, while the upper stage uses two BE-3U engines optimized for deploying payloads beyond low-Earth orbit.
Besides deployment of the ESCAPADE spacecraft, the mission will also launch a technology demonstration payload for communications giant ViaSat.
This weekend’s mission comes 10 months after the New Glenn’s maiden flight in January in the NG-1 mission, which successfully sent a pathfinder spacecraft to orbit.
Commenting on the upcoming mission, Blue Origin CEO Dave Limp wrote on X this week: “NG-1’s goal was clear: reach orbit, everything after that was a bonus. NG-2 builds on that with our primary goal to get ESCAPADE safely to orbit and land the booster.”
How to watch
Blue Origin is targeting Wednesday, November 12, for the launch of the mission from Cape Canaveral in Florida. The launch window opens at 2:50 p.m. ET and extends to just after 5 p.m. ET.
The ongoing government shutdown in the U.S. means that NASA may not get a livestream up and running for the launch, but Blue Origin is expected to share real-time footage both from its X account and also its YouTube channel. The livestream will begin 20 minutes before launch.
What to expect
Aside from the launch, it’s also hoped that the livestream will include footage of the first-stage booster landing on a droneship off the coast of Florida. This will likely take place within 10 minutes of launch, so stick around to find out what happens. A successful landing would be a big win for Blue Origin after its first attempt failed back in January.
Similar to what SpaceX does with its Falcon 9 rocket, bringing the main part of the rocket home in this way allows it to be used for multiple missions, drastically reducing spaceflight costs.
As with any space mission, last-minute issues could disrupt the schedule. We’ll share any updates here just as soon as we hear, or simply check Blue Origin’s X account for the most recent information.
