Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket Launches NASA's Mars Mission

Published 10 hours ago·Updated 5 hours ago

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Above: Blue Origin's New Glenn launches from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida on Nov. 13, 2025. Image copyright: Ufuk Celal Guzel/Anadolu/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Blue Origin just shattered SpaceX's monopoly on orbital rocket recovery, becoming only the second company in history to land a booster after reaching orbit. New Glenn's flawless launch and landing prove real competition has arrived in the space industry. Meanwhile, the NASA-selected mission marks a milestone for cost-effective space science and commercial launch capability. The mission will study Mars' magnetosphere and the interaction between the solar wind and the Martian atmosphere, helping pave the way for future human exploration.

ScienceAlert Bloomberg

John Cremeans on X

Narrative B

Blue Origin's long-delayed ESCAPADE launch exposes Jeff Bezos' shaky space ambitions. Taxpayers footed the bill for repeated failures, while rocket exhaust spewed climate-warming pollutants. This mission also illustrates risks — New Glenn is still unproven, the ESCAPADE launch has already experienced delays, and the fast-tracked commercial launch model may increase technical and schedule risks compared to tried-and-tested platforms. This is flashy public relations over substance, diverting funds from urgent Earth crises amid SpaceX's proven edge.

The New York Times Space.com