Blue Origin’s New Glenn Sends NASA Orbiters to Mars

Successful launch marks milestone for reusable rocket technology

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station on Thursday, carrying two NASA spacecraft bound for Mars. Standing 321 feet (98 meters) tall, the rocket completed only its second flight, but achieved full mission success. Liftoff had been delayed by four days due to poor weather and solar storms that produced auroras visible as far south as Florida. The launch represents a key step for Jeff Bezos’ company, which is working with NASA to support future missions to the moon and beyond.

Booster Recovery and Deployment

In a first for New Glenn, Blue Origin successfully recovered the booster after separation from the upper stage. The vehicle landed upright on a barge 375 miles offshore, drawing cheers from employees and Bezos himself, who watched from Launch Control. Twenty minutes later, the rocket’s upper stage deployed the twin Mars orbiters, completing the mission’s primary objective. NASA officials and SpaceX’s Elon Musk, whose company pioneered reusable boosters, offered congratulations.

New Glenn’s inaugural test flight in January had placed a prototype satellite into orbit but failed to land its booster. Thursday’s success demonstrated progress in Blue Origin’s efforts to recycle hardware and reduce costs. Employees celebrated with chants of “Next stop, moon!” following the booster’s precise landing. The achievement strengthens Blue Origin’s position in the competitive commercial space sector.

Escapade Mission to Mars

The identical Mars orbiters, named Escapade, will spend a year stationed about 1 million miles from Earth before heading to Mars in 2026. Arrival at the red planet is expected in 2027 after a gravity assist maneuver. Once in orbit, the spacecraft will study Mars’ upper atmosphere and magnetic fields, focusing on interactions with the solar wind. Findings may help explain how Mars lost its once warm and wet environment and guide strategies to protect astronauts from radiation.

Rob Lillis of the University of California, Berkeley, who leads the mission, highlighted the unique stereo perspective provided by two orbiters operating simultaneously. The project is managed by UC Berkeley and comes in under $80 million, making it relatively low-cost by space mission standards. NASA opted to use New Glenn despite missing an earlier launch window, citing concerns about delays with the new rocket. Escapade’s data will contribute to understanding planetary evolution and human exploration risks.

Future Plans for New Glenn and Artemis

Named after John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth, New Glenn is five times larger than Blue Origin’s New Shepard rockets used for suborbital flights. The company plans to launch a prototype Blue Moon lunar lander aboard New Glenn in the coming months. Blue Origin already holds a NASA contract for the third crewed moon landing under the Artemis program, while SpaceX won contracts for the first two. NASA recently reopened bidding for the first crewed landing, citing concerns over Starship’s testing pace.

NASA is preparing to send astronauts around the moon early next year using its Space Launch System rocket. The agency aims to return humans to the lunar surface by the end of the decade, competing with China’s own lunar ambitions. Twelve astronauts last walked on the moon more than fifty years ago during the Apollo program. Blue Origin’s progress with New Glenn adds momentum to efforts to expand human presence beyond Earth.