The planned second flight of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket faced another delay due to a powerful solar storm originating 92 million miles away. This intense solar activity, caused by a burst of magnetized plasma from the Sun, has triggered vivid auroras and raised concerns over its impact on Earth’s communication, navigation, and power systems.

Solar storms of this magnitude can also disrupt satellite operations, posing risks to space missions. As a precaution, NASA decided to postpone the launch of two ESCAPADE spacecraft, which were scheduled to ride aboard New Glenn from Cape Canaveral. The agency’s goal is to send the probes on a mission to Mars, but the solar activity prompted a safety review.

According to Blue Origin, the decision was made in consultation with NASA, emphasizing the importance of safeguarding sensitive electronics and communication links during geomagnetic disturbances. Experts warn that such solar events could potentially delay other space endeavors, highlighting the need for advanced forecasting.

This incident underscores the ongoing challenge of coordinating space launches amid unpredictable solar phenomena, emphasizing the importance of solar activity monitoring for future mission planning.

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.