Blue Origin prepares New Glenn for second launch and recovery attempt
Blue Origin has rolled out the first stage of its New Glenn rocket to Launch Complex 36 in Florida for its second flight. The mission aims to launch two Mars-bound ESCAPADE spacecraft, with a targeted window in early November. The company plans to recover the booster, named 'Never Tell Me The Odds,' estimating a 75 percent chance of success.
On Wednesday morning, Blue Origin moved the first stage of its New Glenn rocket from its hangar to Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, Florida, initiating the final preparations for the heavy-lift vehicle's second launch. This rollout marks the start of pre-launch activities, including a static-fire test of the first stage.
The upcoming mission will deploy two identical spacecraft from the ESCAPADE program, designed to study the solar wind at Mars. According to sources, Blue Origin is aiming for a launch between November 9 and 11, assuming all preparations proceed smoothly. No official launch date has been announced by the company.
This flight holds particular significance due to the booster's name, 'Never Tell Me The Odds,' and Blue Origin's intention to recover it on the drone ship Jacklyn for reuse. Internally, engineers assess a 75 percent probability of successfully landing the booster, despite external skepticism. The first New Glenn launch in January successfully orbited its payload but lost the first stage due to propulsion issues, preventing it from reaching the recovery zone or testing key atmospheric flight controls.
For comparison, SpaceX's Falcon 9 required multiple attempts to achieve recovery: its first powered descent occurred on the sixth launch in September 2013, a controlled ocean landing on the ninth flight, and the first drone ship success on the 23rd flight in April 2016. Blue Origin's team benefits from some former SpaceX engineers but faces challenges on just the second flight of a new rocket.
Financially, reuse is essential for New Glenn's viability, as each first stage costs over $100 million to build, incorporating features for rapid reusability. On a nominal timeline, Blue Origin plans to refurbish this booster within 90 days for the third flight, carrying the Mark 1 lunar lander. However, SpaceX's first Falcon 9 booster reuse took 356 days, suggesting potential delays.