The solar activity lighting up the night sky across North America this week has led Jeff Bezos’ space company to postpone the second launch of its New Glenn mega-rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Just hours before the planned launch on Wednesday, Blue Origin announced it would not proceed with the attempt, citing concerns over solar activity and its “potential effects on the ESCAPADE spacecraft” — a Mars-bound mission that the company is handling for NASA. A new launch date has yet to be revealed.
The first launch of New Glenn in January was primarily a successful demonstration mission. However, Blue Origin has delayed the second launch several times, exercising caution since it marks the first event where the rocket will carry a commercial payload.
New Glenn was nearly ready for departure this past Sunday, but weather issues, an errant cruise ship in the flight path, and some equipment problems at the launchpad led the company to cancel the attempt.
