Blue Origin Sets September 29 Target for New Glenn’s Second Launch, Carrying NASA Mars Probes

Blue Origin is preparing for the second flight of its New Glenn rocket, slated to launch NASA’s ESCAPADE mission toward Mars no sooner than September 29th. The forthcoming NG-2 mission represents a significant milestone for Blue Origin and marks the first interplanetary voyage for the relatively new launch vehicle.

Preparations have been ongoing in coordination with NASA in anticipation of this event. Initial plans had envisioned New Glenn carrying the ESCAPADE probes on its inaugural launch earlier in 2025, but NASA opted to defer the mission due to concerns about potential delays associated with a first-ever flight of an unproven rocket system.

The initial New Glenn test launch occurred earlier this year and included a successful deployment of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring satellite bus into Earth orbit. However, the attempt to recover the 188.5-foot (57.5-meter) first stage booster via a landing on a drone ship in the Atlantic Ocean was unsuccessful.

The ESCAPADE mission consists of twin probes – Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers – designed to investigate the magnetosphere surrounding Mars and examine how energetic particles from solar wind interact with the Martian atmosphere. These satellites were constructed by Rocket Lab, based in California, and will be operated by the University of California’s Space Sciences Laboratory, which is managing the $80 million project for NASA.

Alongside its primary payload, New Glenn’s NG-2 launch will also accommodate a secondary mission: a technology demonstration from Viasat. This demonstration supports NASA’s Communications Services Project, focused on fostering advancements in in-space networking capabilities for satellites operating near Earth through partnerships with commercial entities.