Blue Origin is gearing up for its second-ever launch of the powerful New Glenn rocket, which will carry NASA’s twin ESCAPADE mission probes to space. The launch, dubbed NG-2, is currently targeted for September 29 and will see the twin orbiters study the magnetosphere around Mars and analyze the interaction of energetic solar wind particles with the Martian atmosphere.
New Glenn lifted off in 2025, marking a significant milestone for Blue Origin. The company successfully launched its test version of the Blue Ring satellite bus to Earth orbit but struggled to land the first stage at sea. For this mission, New Glenn will attempt to launch and recover the 188.5-foot-tall booster on a drone ship.
ESCAPADE is an ambitious undertaking for the relatively new launch vehicle, with NASA’s $80 million mission aimed at managing the twin orbiters until their operation can be handed over to the University of California’s Space Sciences Laboratory. The mission will also carry a secondary payload from satellite communications company Viasat as part of NASA’s Communications Services Project.
Blue Origin has been working closely with NASA on preparations for this launch, and the company is expecting “some exciting things” at its launchpad in Florida.
Source: https://www.space.com/space-exploration/launches-spacecraft/blue-origin-sets-launch-date-nasa-escapade-mars-probes-2nd-new-glenn-rocket-liftoff