Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA / AFP / Getty Images
Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket on Thursday (November 13) from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. The launch marked only the second flight of the massive 321-foot rocket, which is crucial for future NASA missions to the moon. The rocket carried two NASA spacecraft on a mission to Mars, signaling a significant step forward in space exploration.
The launch had been delayed by four days due to poor weather conditions and intense solar storms that caused auroras visible as far south as Florida. The New Glenn rocket, developed by Jeff Bezos' company, Blue Origin, is designed to be reusable. For the first time, the rocket's booster successfully landed back on Earth after the launch, a milestone for the company.
The mission is part of NASA's ongoing efforts to explore Mars, with the twin spacecraft set to orbit the red planet and gather valuable data. This launch represents Blue Origin's debut mission for paying customers, highlighting the growing collaboration between private space companies and government agencies.