Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is scheduled for its second mission, carrying NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars. The ESCAPADE mission consists of two identical spacecraft designed to orbit Mars and study its magnetic field and atmosphere. This launch also serves as a critical test for Blue Origin, as they will attempt to land the rocket's booster stage on a floating platform in the Atlantic Ocean, a maneuver previously accomplished only by SpaceX.
The launch is set for Thursday afternoon from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, with an 88-minute launch window opening at 2:57 p.m. Eastern time and closing at 4:25 p.m. Previous launch attempts on Sunday and Wednesday were postponed due to poor weather conditions and unspecified issues. Blue Origin will provide a livestream of the launch, beginning 20 minutes prior to liftoff.
