Blue Origin’s New Glenn heavy-lift rocket and its Mars-bound NASA payload now have a tentative launch date of no earlier than October 13. The inaugural flight will carry two probes built by Rocket Lab to help NASA study the effects of solar wind on Mars’ atmosphere, marking the first time New Glenn will fly after years of delays. This launch date falls within the window of opportunity for travel to Mars, which occurs roughly every two years based on planetary alignments. The mission will lift off from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, where NASA’s Escapade spacecraft arrived on August 19 for preparations and integration with the launch vehicle. Pressure is on for Blue Origin to get New Glenn ready in time, as recent factory failures resulted in damage to hardware for upcoming flights, but the company remains on track for this year’s inaugural launch.
