Amazon’s Blue Origin to Launch New Glenn Rocket to Mars in October

According to Blue Origin, the first flight of the New Glenn rocket will take place no earlier than October 13. Interestingly, during the first flight of the carrier, the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) plans to send two small satellites into space as part of the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission. The Photon devices were manufactured by Rocket Lab and are designed to study the magnetosphere of Mars. The satellites were delivered to the cosmodrome on August 19 for integration with the rocket. It is likely that mid-October was not chosen by chance for the launch of New Glenn, since this is the time when conditions will be favorable for conducting Martian missions.

Despite recent manufacturing glitches that have impacted hardware for future missions, Blue Origin still plans to conduct the first flight of New Glenn this year.