Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, has postponed the second launch of its New Glenn mega-rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida due to solar storms. The solar activity, which has been causing spectacular night sky displays in North America, has prompted the delay to ensure the safety of the ESCAPADE spacecraft, a Mars-bound science mission onboard for NASA.
The scheduled launch on Wednesday was called off just hours before liftoff, with Blue Origin citing concerns over the potential impact of the solar activity on the mission. The company has not yet announced a new launch date, emphasizing caution as this will be the first time New Glenn carries a commercial payload.
Previously, New Glenn faced delays, including an aborted attempt due to weather issues and unexpected obstacles like an approaching cruise ship in the launch path. Despite a successful demonstration mission in January, Blue Origin is exercising prudence in preparation for this critical commercial launch.
Source: TechCrunch