Updated Monday, November 10, 2025 — Cape Canaveral, Florida
Blue Origin’s second New Glenn mission — poised to send NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes toward Mars — did not fly today. After a weather scrub on Sunday, Nov. 9, the company now targets Wednesday, Nov. 12, with a 2:50–4:17 p.m. EST (19:50–21:17 UTC) launch window from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral. Blue Origin says it worked with the FAA and the range to select this new window, citing continued concerns about weather and sea-state conditions for booster recovery. [1]
What changed since yesterday
Blue Origin stood down on Sunday when thick, electrified clouds violated the launch weather rules. During the countdown, teams also worked a ground-systems issue, and a cruise ship briefly wandered into the keep‑out zone — each a showstopper on a day when the atmosphere already wasn’t cooperating. [2]
Complicating the schedule, a new FAA curfew on commercial space launches during daytime hours took effect today as part of broader airspace restrictions imposed during the federal government shutdown. Blue Origin indicated it coordinated with regulators for the mid‑afternoon Wednesday window; industry watchers had flagged that exemptions might be required under the curfew policy. [3]
Today’s status at a glance (Nov. 10)
- No launch today (Monday). Weather and recovery seas remain factors; the next attempt is NET Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2:50–4:17 p.m. EST. [4]
- Why Sunday scrubbed: Cumulus/thick cloud rule violations; additional range/ground constraints compounded the call to stand down. [5]
- Why an FAA curfew matters: The agency has temporarily restricted commercial launches mostly to overnight windows during the shutdown; Blue Origin coordinated the new daytime slot with the FAA and the range. [6]
How to watch on Nov. 12
Blue Origin plans a live webcast starting 20 minutes before liftoff. On‑site viewing at the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is also scheduled for the new date and time. Always check day‑of updates, as Florida weather and range conditions can shift. [7]
What the NG‑2 mission will do
Payloads. New Glenn will carry NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) — two identical small satellites nicknamed “Blue” and “Gold” — built by Rocket Lab for UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory. A Viasat technology demonstration supporting NASA’s Communications Services Project is also aboard. [8]
Trajectory. Because of the 2025 launch timing, ESCAPADE won’t head straight for Mars. The pair will first enter a phasing orbit near the Earth–Sun L2 region for roughly a year, then begin a ~10‑month cruise to arrive at Mars in 2027. Once there, the spacecraft will map how the solar wind strips away the Martian atmosphere — a big step for forecasting space‑weather hazards to future astronauts. [9]
Why it matters. This is NASA’s first Mars launch in more than five years and Blue Origin’s first customer‑carrying orbital mission on New Glenn, following the rocket’s successful debut to orbit in January. A strong performance on NG‑2 will be closely watched by NASA and commercial customers alike. [10]
The rocket: New Glenn, flight 2
Standing 321 feet (98 meters) tall, New Glenn uses seven BE‑4 engines on its first stage and two BE‑3U engines on the upper stage. For NG‑2, Blue Origin plans to land the booster on its Atlantic landing platform Jacklyn several hundred miles downrange. Sea state — the height and period of waves — is a key constraint for that recovery. [11]
New Glenn reached orbit on its first flight (NG‑1) on Jan. 16, 2025, meeting the mission’s primary objective; the booster landing was not successful, and Blue Origin has since worked corrective actions ahead of this second flight. [12]
Timeline of key updates (Nov. 9–10)
- Sun., Nov. 9: Blue Origin scrubs during an 88‑minute window because of weather; teams also note a ground‑systems issue and a cruise ship in the hazard area. Company says it will assess the next opportunity. [13]
- Mon., Nov. 10: With FAA daytime launch restrictions now active, Blue Origin sets the next attempt for Wednesday, Nov. 12, 2:50–4:17 p.m. EST, after coordinating with the FAA and range; seas and weather remain part of the calculation. [14]
Mission science: What ESCAPADE will study
Once in Mars orbit, the twin probes will fly coordinated paths to create a 3D view of the planet’s magnetosphere and upper atmosphere, helping scientists quantify how energy from the solar wind drives atmospheric escape — a process tied to Mars’ climate history and habitability. ESCAPADE is led by UC Berkeley with participation from NASA Goddard, Rocket Lab, Advanced Space, Embry‑Riddle, and Northern Arizona University. [15]
Practical info for launch day
- Launch time:Wednesday, Nov. 12, window 2:50–4:17 p.m. EST (19:50–21:17 UTC). Webcast begins ~T‑20 minutes. [16]
- Where to watch: BlueOrigin.com webcast; on‑site viewing at KSC Visitor Complex (check ticketing/arrival guidance). [17]
- Weather wildcard: Florida’s afternoon convection and upper‑level anvil clouds can trip “thick cloud” and lightning rules; ocean conditions also affect booster recovery GO/NO‑GO. [18]
Big picture
If New Glenn flies Wednesday, the mission will mark a milestone for both NASA’s low‑cost, fast‑turn planetary science and Blue Origin’s path to regular orbital service. For NASA, ESCAPADE provides high‑value Mars science on a tight budget; for Blue Origin, a clean NG‑2 will further validate the rocket after its January debut and accelerate work toward a higher cadence and reusability. [19]
Sources & further reading used for this report
- Blue Origin mission update and NG‑2 flight profile, including new Nov. 12 launch window and the Jacklyn landing plan. [20]
- Launch attempt scrub details and range/weather context; NG‑2 mission profile, recovery plan, and ESCAPADE timeline. [21]
- Space.com on the Sunday scrub and the FAA curfew backdrop; context that this is NASA’s first Mars launch in 5+ years. [22]
- FAA daytime‑launch restrictions during the shutdown and what they mean for schedules. [23]
- KSC Visitor Complex listing reflecting the Nov. 12 target. [24]
- Background: New Glenn’s January 2025 debut to orbit. [25]
Note: Launch schedules are fluid and can change at any time due to weather, range, or technical considerations. This article reflects the status as of Monday, Nov. 10, 2025.
References
1. www.blueorigin.com, 2. spaceflightnow.com, 3. www.politico.com, 4. www.blueorigin.com, 5. spaceflightnow.com, 6. www.politico.com, 7. www.blueorigin.com, 8. news.berkeley.edu, 9. spaceflightnow.com, 10. www.space.com, 11. spaceflightnow.com, 12. www.blueorigin.com, 13. www.space.com, 14. www.blueorigin.com, 15. news.berkeley.edu, 16. www.blueorigin.com, 17. www.blueorigin.com, 18. spaceflightnow.com, 19. www.planetary.org, 20. www.blueorigin.com, 21. spaceflightnow.com, 22. www.space.com, 23. www.politico.com, 24. www.kennedyspacecenter.com, 25. www.blueorigin.com
