The eagerly anticipated maiden flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is not going according to plan. Initially scheduled to launch two spacecraft for NASA within an 8-day window starting October 13, the mission, known as ESCAPADE, has been postponed until spring 2025. The delay is attributed to potential cost and technical challenges associated with refueling the satellites. In the meantime, Blue Origin is set to launch its own technology payloads in November.
The first flight of a new rocket always carries significant risks for both the launch vehicle and its payload. Blue Origin has been racing against the clock to prepare for the New Glenn’s launch within a month. CEO Dave Limp acknowledged on the X platform that there is still much work to be done, but progress has been made.
Technical Challenges and Delays
Recent reports from Bloomberg have highlighted a major setback in the hardware testing of the New Glenn, indicating that the original timeline was too ambitious. If the launch had proceeded as planned in October, the spacecraft would have reached Mars orbit in early September 2025. It remains unclear how long the journey to Mars will take under the new launch timeframe.
The first New Glenn mission has now been rescheduled for November, and it will carry Blue Origin’s Blue Moon technology payloads instead of NASA’s ESCAPADE spacecraft. This will also mark the inaugural flight under the U.S. Space Force’s National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program. Blue Origin must successfully complete two New Glenn missions before it can begin launching national security payloads under the NSSL plan.
NASA’s Concerns and Decision
Industry insiders reveal that NASA held a critical meeting yesterday to discuss whether to refuel the two spacecraft. While NASA has declined to comment, a statement from the agency essentially confirmed that the risks associated with refueling and then delaying the launch were too great: This decision was made to avoid the significant costs, scheduling, and technical challenges that would arise from removing fuel from the spacecraft in the event of a launch delay, which could be caused by various factors.
The spacecraft, manufactured by Rocket Lab, use toxic bi-propellant. Rocket Lab’s Chief Systems Engineer for the ESCAPADE mission, Christophe Mandy, mentioned in an interview last month that refueling and then defueling the spacecraft would pose risks to the satellites.
If we refuel and then have to remove the fuel, the process of cleaning the spacecraft would introduce various forms of risk that need to be addressed, he said. Therefore, if they have been fueled, certain work would need to be done to prepare the spacecraft for launch again.
Implications for Blue Origin and the Space Industry
The delay of the New Glenn’s maiden flight and the ESCAPADE mission has significant implications for Blue Origin and the broader space industry. The postponement not only affects the timeline for Blue Origin’s entry into the competitive market of heavy-lift launch vehicles but also impacts NASA’s plans for Mars exploration.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is designed to be a versatile launch vehicle capable of carrying a wide range of payloads, including human missions. The successful completion of the maiden flight and subsequent missions will be crucial for the company to demonstrate its capabilities and gain credibility in the space industry.
Conclusion
The postponement of Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch and the ESCAPADE mission highlights the inherent challenges and risks associated with space exploration. While the delay may be disappointing for stakeholders, it underscores the importance of thorough preparation and ensuring mission safety. As Blue Origin continues to work towards the rescheduled launch, the space industry watches with bated breath, hoping for a successful outcome that will pave the way for future missions and advancements in space technology.
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