Blue Origin postponed Wednesday's scheduled 2:50 p.m. EST New Glenn launch of NASA's twin ESCAPADE orbiters after intense solar flares. The liftoff was scrubbed minutes before launch following two holds; officials described the activity as the strongest solar flares of the year. The company said it will monitor space weather and range availability while evaluating new launch windows. No replacement date has been announced.
Solar Flares Force Second Delay of Blue Origin's New Glenn Mars Launch
Blue Origin postponed Wednesday's scheduled 2:50 p.m. EST New Glenn launch of NASA's twin ESCAPADE orbiters after intense solar flares. The liftoff was scrubbed minutes before launch following two holds; officials described the activity as the strongest solar flares of the year. The company said it will monitor space weather and range availability while evaluating new launch windows. No replacement date has been announced.
01:51 AM, 11/13/2025Science
Blue Origin delays New Glenn launch after intense solar flares
Blue Origin postponed its second planned New Glenn launch carrying NASA's twin ESCAPADE orbiters to Mars after elevated solar flare activity. The company called off Wednesday's planned 2:50 p.m. EST liftoff from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station minutes before liftoff, following two holds. Officials said the pause followed what they described as the strongest solar flares of the year on Tuesday.
"Due to highly elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the ESCAPADE spacecraft, NASA is postponing launch until space weather conditions improve," Blue Origin officials wrote on X.
Mission teams routinely delay launches when space weather poses a risk. Solar flares and related phenomena can disrupt communications, affect onboard electronics and expose spacecraft to increased radiation, so teams wait for conditions to stabilize before proceeding.
The New Glenn vehicle previously passed a major flight test in January. Blue Origin said no replacement launch date has been announced and that the company is assessing forecasted space weather and range availability to establish the next launch window.