New Glenn’s Successful Static Fire Test Clears Way for Launch of ESCAPADE Mission

NASA SPACE FLIGHT - Following Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket firing its seven BE-4 engines on the first stage for 38 seconds, the path has been cleared for its upcoming launch of the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission to Mars. The company currently plans to launch the second flight of its heavy-lift, partially reusable rocket on Sunday, Nov. 9, at 2:45 PM EST (19:45 UTC).

Months of work preceded the successful hotfire, starting with the test firing of the second stage in April. Teams pored over flight data from New Glenn’s maiden flight — using booster So You’re Telling Me There’s a Chance launching on Jan. 16, 2025 — and assembled the first stage for this flight, named Never Tell Me The Odds, during the months after New Glenn’s first flight.

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Note:  Blue Origin is headquartered in Kent.

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