Blue Origin is preparing for the second flight of its New Glenn rocket, now scheduled for mid-October from Florida's Space Coast. The mission, designated NG-2, will carry NASA's twin ESCAPADE probes, which are destined for an orbit around Mars to study the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field.
The launch was previously scheduled for late September but has been adjusted to accommodate final preparations. Key upcoming milestones include a static hot-fire test of the rocket's first stage, which is planned for early October at Launch Complex-36.
Key Takeaways
- New Launch Window: The second New Glenn launch is now targeted for mid-October, a slight delay from the initial late September date.
- Primary Payload: The rocket will carry NASA's twin ESCAPADE probes, an $80 million mission to study the Martian magnetosphere.
- Critical Test: A static hot-fire test of the New Glenn first stage (GS1) is scheduled for early October at Launch Complex-36.
- Secondary Mission: The flight will also include a technology demonstration payload for Viasat as part of a NASA partnership.
Launch Preparations Underway in Florida
Preparations for the NG-2 mission are advancing at multiple locations on the Space Coast. The ESCAPADE payload is currently housed at Blue Origin's Astrotech Space Operations Facility in Titusville, where it awaits integration with the rocket.
Meanwhile, the New Glenn first stage booster, identified as GS1, is being moved to Launch Complex-36 for a critical engine test. This static hot-fire test will verify the performance of the booster's seven BE-4 engines before the vehicle is cleared for flight.
In a social media post, Blue Origin confirmed the updated schedule. "ESCAPADE is at Astrotech and GS1 is headed to LC-36 in early October. Next up is the vehicle hotfire mid-month with launch soon thereafter," the company stated.
New Glenn First Stage
The first stage booster of the New Glenn rocket stands nearly 189 feet (58 meters) tall. Blue Origin plans to make the booster reusable and will attempt a landing on an ocean platform during this mission, following an unsuccessful recovery attempt on the rocket's debut flight.
NASA's ESCAPADE Probes Head to Mars
The primary payload for this flight is NASA's Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission. The mission consists of two identical small satellites designed to provide a two-point perspective on the Martian environment.
Once in orbit around Mars, the probes will study the planet's unique magnetosphere. Their primary scientific goal is to understand how solar wind strips particles from the Martian atmosphere, a process that has significantly shaped the planet's climate over billions of years.
A Mission of Confidence
The ESCAPADE mission represents a significant vote of confidence from NASA in Blue Origin's new launch vehicle. Initially, the mission was slated to fly on New Glenn's first launch but was reassigned due to the risks associated with an unproven rocket.
Following the successful orbital insertion during New Glenn's debut, NASA reassigned the mission to the rocket's second flight. This marks New Glenn's first interplanetary launch and is a critical step for the vehicle in the commercial launch market.
Mission Partners
The twin ESCAPADE satellites were constructed by California-based aerospace company Rocket Lab. Once the probes reach Mars, mission operations will be managed by the University of California, Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory. The total cost of the mission is approximately $80 million.
Building on New Glenn's First Flight
The upcoming NG-2 mission follows New Glenn's inaugural launch earlier this year. That flight successfully delivered a test version of Blue Origin's Blue Ring satellite platform into Earth orbit, proving the rocket's ability to reach its intended destination.
However, the mission did not achieve all its objectives. The attempt to land the reusable first stage on a barge in the Atlantic Ocean was unsuccessful. Blue Origin has stated it will attempt another booster recovery during the ESCAPADE launch, a key component of its long-term strategy to reduce launch costs.
Secondary Payload Included
In addition to the NASA probes, the NG-2 mission will carry a secondary payload for the satellite communications company Viasat. This payload is a technology demonstration that flies as part of NASA's Communications Services Project.
This project partners with commercial companies to develop and advance networking technologies for satellites operating in near-Earth orbit. The inclusion of multiple payloads demonstrates New Glenn's capacity and flexibility as a heavy-lift launch vehicle.