Aerospace Sector Ramps Up with Major Space Launches Following Delays

This week, a series of significant space launches are set to take place, recovering from delays faced the previous week. Among the key missions are the anticipated New Glenn rocket carrying the ESCAPADE payload, the Viasat-3 F2 satellite aboard an Atlas V rocket, and several launches by SpaceX, including two Starlink missions, in addition to the Sentinel-6B mission. Rocket Lab is also scheduled to conduct a suborbital Electron HASTE mission.

The second launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, tasked with deploying the Mars-oriented ESCAPADE payload, is now slated for no earlier than Wednesday, November 12, at 2:50 PM EST from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. The launch window will remain open until 4:17 PM EST. This launch follows a previous attempt that was aborted due to unfavorable weather conditions. The New Glenn rocket’s first stage, named Never Tell Me The Odds, will aim to land on Blue Origin’s platform, Jacklyn, located in the Atlantic Ocean after launching two probes, Blue and Gold, which will first study space weather before heading to Mars during the 2026 transfer window.

Following New Glenn, ULA’s Atlas V 551 is scheduled for a launch on Thursday, November 13, at 10:00 PM EST, following scrubs from earlier attempts due to issues with a vent valve. The mission, which will transport the Viasat-3 F2 satellite to a geosynchronous transfer orbit, also comes after the rocket was rolled back to its integration facility for repairs. The Viasat-3 F2 satellite aims to improve network capacity and download speeds for users across the Americas, complementing the previously launched Viasat-3 F1 satellite, which is being repurposed for other regions following an operational anomaly.

SpaceX is gearing up for a busy Friday, November 14, with two Falcon 9 rocket launches. The first, part of the Starlink Group 6-89 mission, is set for 10:01 PM EST from Kennedy Space Center, carrying 29 new Starlink v2 Mini satellites. A second launch, the Starlink Group 6-85 mission, is also targeted for the same time from Cape Canaveral, though the schedule may change. Both boosters are expected to return to landing platforms in the Atlantic.

On Sunday, November 16, Rocket Lab’s Electron rocket will conduct the HASTE mission, named “Van,” to research hypersonic flight. The flight will take place from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia. This mission will be followed by the launch of the Sentinel-6B Earth-observation satellite on Monday, November 17, at 9:21 PM PST from Vandenberg Space Force Base. Sentinel-6B, part of the Copernicus Programme, is intended for monitoring ocean topography, aiding in the continuity of sea level data.

The upcoming launches highlight a renewed vigor in the aerospace sector, even as some schedules have been impacted by the ongoing U.S. government shutdown, which has caused the FAA to issue temporary restrictions on launches due to staff shortages. Once the government reopens, it’s anticipated that these restrictions will be lifted, allowing for a return to normal operations.