New Glenn – Spaceflight Now

Blue Origin halfway through 4-flight certification to allow launch of national security missions

December 13, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The launch company owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos launched two successful missions in 2025, including landing its first booster on its landing barge.

Blue Origin launches twin Mars probes for NASA as New Glenn makes first landing

November 13, 2025 William Harwood

Blue Origin launched its second heavy-lift New Glenn rocket Thursday, putting two small NASA satellites onto a long, looping course to Mars to learn more about how the sun has slowly blown away the red planet’s once thick atmosphere.

Launch preview: Blue Origin to launch NASA’s ESCAPADE following scrubs from clouds, space weather

November 13, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin was able to secure permission from the Federal Aviation Administration for a daytime launch attempt while the emergency order constraining commercial launches remains in place even after the end of the government shutdown. Liftoff is scheduled during an 88-minute-long window that opens at 2:57 p.m. EST (1957 UTC).

NASA scrubs ESCAPADE launch due to ‘highly elevated solar activity’

November 11, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin was able to secure permission from the Federal Aviation Administration for a daytime launch attempt while the emergency order constraining commercial launches remains in place during the government shutdown. However, the solar storms are forcing Blue Origin and NASA to find a new launch opportunity.

Blue Origin completes New Glenn static fire test, preparing for NASA’s EscaPADE mission launch

October 31, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin lit up a pocket of Florida’s Space Coast Thursday night when it hot fired its New Glenn rocket for an engine test lasting roughly 40 seconds in duration.

Blue Origin details lunar exploration progress amid Artemis 3 contract shakeup

October 28, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

Blue Origin’s senior director of civil space shared an update on the company’s progress developing the Blue Moon crew and cargo landers during the American Astronautical Society’s 2025 von Braun Space Exploration Symposium.

Blue Origin transports New Glenn booster to launch site ahead of Mars-bound mission

October 8, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The booster named ‘Never Tell Me the Odds’ will support the launch of NASA’s EscaPADE mission, sending two washing machine-sized satellites on their way to Mars.

SpaceX to launch 4 Falcon Heavy rockets as part of newest U.S. national security missions award

October 4, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The U.S. Space Force’s Space Systems Command announced that SpaceX and ULA would launch five and two missions respectively as part of the latest round of National Security Space Launch contract assignments.

Amazon says $139.5 million investment in Florida is key to ramping up launch cadence with Project Kuiper

July 24, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The tech giant launched three batches of its satellites on two different rockets in less than three months. It said the next slate of Kuiper satellites is prepared to launch now, but didn’t state when that’s expected to happen.

U.S. Space Force awards $13.7 billion in new national security launch contracts to Blue Origin, SpaceX and ULA

April 5, 2025 Will Robinson-Smith

The 54 national security missions will be awarded over the course of five years spanning FY25-FY29. The U.S. Space Force said missions are anticipated to fly from FY27-FY32.