Blue Origin set for New Glenn rocket launch carrying twin spacecraft to Mars on November 9

Blue Origin is preparing for the upcoming launch of its heavy-lift New Glenn rocket, which is scheduled to take off from Florida on Sunday, November 9, at 2:45 PM EST. This mission, designated “NG-2,” will carry two twin spacecraft bound for Mars. The liftoff will occur at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station from Launch Complex 36, although weather conditions pose a concern, with the 45th Weather Squadron predicting a 45% chance of unfavorable weather during the launch window.

The two ESCAPADE spacecraft, constructed by Rocket Lab and managed by NASA, will be at the forefront of this mission. Their objective is to analyze Mars’ magnetosphere and the interactions of solar wind with the planet’s atmosphere once they reach Martian orbit. Additionally, New Glenn will incorporate Viasat’s InRange launch telemetry relay service throughout the mission, which is part of NASA’s Communication Services Project.

New Glenn is making its second flight following its inaugural mission in January. The rocket, named in honor of astronaut John Glenn—who became the first American to orbit Earth in 1962—was first announced in 2015. Originally slated for launch in 2020, New Glenn encountered delays due to development challenges before its first successful flight on January 16, 2025. That mission performed well, achieving orbital insertion and deploying its payload to a medium-Earth orbit, although the first stage booster did not successfully land on the recovery ship.

Standing 98 meters tall and 7 meters wide, New Glenn ranks among the largest rockets currently in operation. Its design includes a reusable first stage and an expendable second stage. The first stage, referred to as Glenn Stage 1, is powered by seven BE-4 engines, capable of generating over 17,000 kilonewtons of thrust. Blue Origin envisions the booster to be reused up to 25 times with minimal refurbishment.

The payload for the upcoming NG-2 mission, known as the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE), aims to offer new insights into Martian space weather phenomena. Originally planned to accompany NASA’s Psyche mission, ESCAPADE was reassigned to Blue Origin’s New Glenn after Psyche opted for a SpaceX launch. NASA awarded the launch contract to Blue Origin in February 2023 for approximately $20 million.

Both ESCAPADE spacecraft will use advanced instruments to achieve their scientific goals, which include understanding the structure of Mars’ magnetosphere and how it interacts with solar wind. Each spacecraft will enter a unique orbit around Mars, allowing them to collect data from different regions of the magnetosphere concurrently.

Following their deployment from New Glenn, ESCAPADE will undergo a journey encompassing a flyby of Earth before heading to Mars. This mission is projected to span around 2.5 years, mapping out critical data about the Martian atmosphere and magnetosphere.

In the lead-up to the launch, Blue Origin successfully conducted a static fire test on October 30, 2025, marking another step forward as they prepare for a highly anticipated flight. Additionally, the recovery ship Jacklyn has set sail to its designated landing zone to support the first stage’s landing attempt. As NG-2 approaches its launch, enthusiasm is building for what could be a significant milestone in commercial space exploration and interplanetary study.