The second launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket, carrying a pair of NASA smallsats destined for Mars, is now scheduled for late October or early November. The updated timeline was confirmed by a NASA official, signaling a slight delay from the previously anticipated September launch window.
The mission, known as Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE), will study the Martian atmosphere. The spacecraft, built by Rocket Lab, have returned to Florida to resume launch preparations after a previous delay related to the readiness of the New Glenn vehicle.
Key Takeaways
- The second launch of Blue Origin's New Glenn is now targeting late October or early November.
- The rocket will carry NASA's ESCAPADE mission, consisting of two small satellites, to study the Martian magnetosphere.
- The spacecraft, built by Rocket Lab, were returned to Florida after a previous delay when New Glenn was not ready for an earlier launch window.
- This mission follows New Glenn's inaugural flight in January, which successfully reached orbit but resulted in the loss of the booster during a landing attempt.
Revised Launch Schedule for Mars Mission
NASA has adjusted the launch schedule for its ESCAPADE mission to Mars. According to Tim Dunn, a senior launch director in NASA’s Launch Services Program, the new target is set for the end of October or the first week of November. "We believe we’re targeting very late in October, maybe the first week of November, for ESCAPADE to launch on a New Glenn rocket," Dunn stated during a recent NASA webcast.
This mission represents the second flight for Blue Origin's heavy-lift New Glenn rocket. The launch was procured by NASA through its Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) contract, which is designed to provide flexible and cost-effective launch options for science missions.
The previous launch date was slated for no earlier than September 29. However, preparations for both the launch vehicle and the spacecraft suggested that this target was becoming increasingly difficult to meet.
Spacecraft Preparations and Previous Delays
The twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, nicknamed Blue and Gold, have undergone a complex preparation process. Manufactured by Rocket Lab at its facility in Long Beach, California, the satellites were first transported to Florida in August 2024. At that time, the mission was scheduled for an October 2024 launch.
However, in early September, NASA halted these preparations. The agency determined that the New Glenn rocket would not be ready in time for the launch window, which was set to close in late October. Consequently, the spacecraft were shipped back to Long Beach to await a new launch opportunity.
Background on the ESCAPADE Mission
The ESCAPADE mission aims to investigate how Mars' magnetosphere interacts with solar wind. By using two identical spacecraft, scientists can gather simultaneous measurements from different locations, providing a more complete picture of the planet's space weather environment. This data is crucial for understanding how Mars lost most of its atmosphere over billions of years.
Rocket Lab confirmed on September 12 that the spacecraft were completing final tests before their return trip to Florida. Just a few days later, Laura Maginnis, Blue Origin's vice president of New Glenn mission management, mentioned at a conference that the launch would happen "in the coming weeks," without providing a specific date.
"It’s been a long road, but we are so excited to be launching Blue & Gold on their mission to understand the Martian space weather environment."
Rob Lillis, Principal Investigator for ESCAPADE, University of California Berkeley
New Glenn's Second Flight and Future Ambitions
This upcoming launch is a significant milestone for Blue Origin's New Glenn program. The vehicle's inaugural flight took place in January, successfully delivering a technology demonstration payload to orbit. While the primary mission objective was met, the reusable first-stage booster was lost during an attempted landing on a drone ship.
Blue Origin has outlined an aggressive launch manifest for the coming years. The company had initially planned for this second launch to occur as early as spring 2025. Looking further ahead, Blue Origin has stated its goal is to conduct 8 to 10 launches in 2025 and ramp up to a cadence of "multiple times per month" in 2026.
Blue Origin's Production Scale
To support its high-frequency launch goals, Blue Origin is actively building a fleet of New Glenn boosters. According to company officials, they currently have eight upper stages in storage, ready for future missions.
Innovative Trajectory Provides Flexibility
A key factor enabling the mission's scheduling flexibility is its unique trajectory design. Unlike traditional Mars missions that must launch within very narrow windows to ensure an efficient transfer, ESCAPADE has more options. A team at Advanced Space, a company supporting the mission, developed multiple flight paths.
These trajectories allow the spacecraft to launch on almost any day this year. The plan involves the satellites loitering in Earth's orbit or at the Earth-sun L2 Lagrange point. From there, they will begin their journey to Mars in 2026.
Jeffrey Parker of Advanced Space explained at the Small Satellite Conference in August that this approach removes the tight constraints typical of interplanetary missions. This innovation could prove valuable for future small satellite missions to Mars and other deep-space destinations, making them less dependent on rigid launch schedules.