Blue Origin has postponed the much-anticipated launch of its New Glenn rocket carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to Mars. Originally scheduled for Sunday, 9 November 2025, the launch was called off due to unfavourable weather conditions at Cape Canaveral’s Launch Complex 36. This delay comes just one day before new federal restrictions for commercial spaceflights are set to take effect during the ongoing government shutdown.The New Glenn NG-2 launch represents a critical step in both NASA’s planetary exploration efforts and Blue Origin’s ambition to establish reusable heavy-lift rockets for interplanetary missions. The postponement highlights the intricate interplay between technical readiness, environmental conditions, and regulatory oversight in modern spaceflight operations.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG-2 launch rescheduled
Blue Origin’s New Glenn NG-2 rocket was intended to deploy NASA’s twin ESCAPADE orbiters on a complex path to Mars. The mission was to lift off from Launch Complex 36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, one of the United States’ primary hubs for space launches.The 88-minute launch window was met with thick cumulus clouds, rain, and thunderstorms, preventing the rocket from safely taking off. Blue Origin spokesperson Tabitha Lipkin explained, “Today’s NG-2 launch is scrubbed due to weather, specifically the cumulus cloud rule. We are reviewing opportunities for our next launch attempt based on forecasted conditions.” According to Space News, Blue Origin has confirmed that the next launch attempt is scheduled for Wednesday, 12 November 2025. A live broadcast of the launch will begin approximately 20 minutes prior to liftoff and will be accessible through Space.com.This mission remains a critical test of both Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket and NASA’s Mars exploration objectives. Despite the delays, the company remains focused on achieving a safe and successful launch that will advance scientific knowledge and push the boundaries of commercial spaceflight.
FAA restrictions and government shutdown complicate New Glenn launch plans
The launch delay was further complicated by federal regulations. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced an indefinite suspension of all daytime commercial launches to reduce workload pressures on air traffic controllers affected by the government shutdown.Blue Origin had initially planned to use backup launch days on 10 and 11 November. However, the new FAA restrictions meant the company had to coordinate closely to secure approval for a launch beyond Sunday. Blue Origin confirmed, “Our next launch attempt is no earlier than Wednesday, 12 November, due to forecasted weather and sea state conditions. We have worked with the FAA and range authorities to select a launch window from 2:50 PM to 4:17 PM EST, 19:50 to 21:17 UTC.”These regulatory hurdles highlight the dependency of commercial space missions on government agencies and underscore the need for careful planning and coordination.
Blue Origin collaboration with NASA and Space Launch Delta 45
Blue Origin’s launch operations are conducted in close partnership with NASA and Space Launch Delta 45 (SLD 45), the Space Force unit overseeing launches from Florida’s Eastern Range. Laura Maginnis, Vice President for New Glenn Mission Management at Blue Origin, stated, “We are working closely with our partners at the FAA and NASA to respect airspace and safety requirements while meeting the objectives of this mission.”The company had secured launch days on 9 and 10 November with SLD 45. Nonetheless, any daytime launches during the government shutdown require FAA approval, adding another layer of complexity to scheduling. Fueling procedures were further challenged by intermittent rain and lightning, forcing mission managers to make real-time safety decisions.
NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission: Objectives and significance
The ESCAPADE mission, short for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, is NASA’s first Mars mission in five years. The mission was originally slated for October 2024 but has experienced multiple delays due to technical and scheduling issues.The twin ESCAPADE orbiters, built by Rocket Lab, are designed to study the interaction between Mars’ atmosphere and the solar wind. By understanding how space weather strips the planet of its atmosphere, scientists hope to gain insights into the processes that transformed Mars into the dry, barren world seen today. The mission is considered a low-cost project, with development expenses under $80 million, and is led by NASA researchers from the University of California, Berkeley. The New Glenn rocket’s second stage will also carry a telemetry communications experiment for ViaSat as part of NASA’s Communications Services Project, demonstrating the versatility of the launch vehicle.Also Read | 3I/ATLAS’ new image revealed! Giant core, strange sunward jets, twin anti-tails, and unseen cosmic secrets
