Blue Origin successfully launched its New Glenn rocket from Cape Canaveral, marking a significant step toward Mars exploration. The mission, carrying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft, aims to reach the Red Planet by 2027, despite previous delays caused by solar activity and weather conditions.

The twin spacecraft are designed to advance our understanding of Mars’ atmosphere and magnetic environment. Supporting this scientific goal, onboard is a technology demonstration by Viasat, part of NASA’s Communications Services Project, which aims to improve deep-space communication capabilities.

Experts highlight that such missions are crucial for future crewed Mars missions and planetary science. “Every successful launch brings us closer to sustainable interplanetary travel,” notes aerospace analyst Emily Carter.

In addition to Blue Origin’s launch, United Launch Alliance is preparing for a nighttime Atlas V mission from Cape Canaveral, targeting a ViaSat broadband satellite. This launch, delayed twice last week due to technical issues, is part of Florida’s busy launch schedule, which is nearing a record 100 missions for 2025.

These consecutive launches underscore Florida’s growing role as a global space hub, with recent record-breaking activity supporting the expansion of commercial and scientific space endeavors.

David Nield

Dave is a freelance tech journalist with over 20 years covering gadgets, apps, and the web. From Stockport, England, he covers news, features, and reviews for TechRadar, focusing on phones, tablets, and wearables. He ensures top weekend breaking news and has bylines at Gizmodo, T3, PopSci, and others. He edited PC Explorer and The Hardware Handbook for years. Read me on x.com or linkedin.