New Glenn Mission 2: NASA's EscaPADE Mission [13.11.25; 19:57 UTC]

Edit 1: launch moved from the 7th to the 9th. Note: FAA has announced launch restrictions starting November 10th due to the government shutdown.

Edit 2: 1st launch attempt scrubbed due to weather.

Edit 3: new launch date November 12, 2025. - Blue Origin, Twitter

Edit 4: launch postponed due to increased solar activity.

Edit 5: new launch date November 13, 2025

Blue Origin's New Glenn heavy-lift launch vehicle will launch for its second flight on November 9, 2025.
The first mission successfully inserted the primary payload into the planned transfer orbit on the first attempt, demonstrating reliable upper-stage performance and orbital insertion accuracy. However, the first-stage booster landing was unsuccessful.

For a detailed technical recap of the maiden flight (NG-1), see Scott Manley's analysis.

Payload: ESCAPADE Mission

The payload for NG-2 is NASA's Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) dual-spacecraft mission. The spacecrafts were built by Rocket Lab, which has expanded its capabilities through strategic acquisitions to enable full in-house small satellite production.

ESCAPADE consists of two spacecraft that will study Mars' magnetosphere and its interaction with the solar wind. The primary science objective is to quantify the processes responsible for atmospheric escape, particularly the loss of water over geological time.

Mission duration (at Mars): ~6 months (primary science phase)
Total mission lifetime: ~2.5 years
Current trajectory: Earth–Sun L2 halo orbit for checkout and space weather monitoring
Mars arrival: Late 2026
Orbit insertion and circularization: ~6 months
Science operations: Satellites will gradually separate to enable simultaneous multi-point measurements of the Martian magnetosphere

Due to launch delays, the spacecraft will reside in a halo orbit around the Earth–Sun Lagrange point 2 (L2) prior to trans-Mars injection.

Comparative Launch Vehicle Specifications

The table below compares New Glenn with contemporary heavy-lift vehicles in terms of physical dimensions, estimated launch cost, and payload capacity to low Earth orbit (LEO) and geostationary transfer orbit (GTO/GEO). Note: Cost and performance figures are based on public manufacturer statements and may vary with configuration and contract terms.

The table below highlights how New Glenn stacks up against other prominent rockets in the industry:

Rocket	New Glenn	Falcon Heavy	Ariane 6	Vulcan Centaur	Long March 5
Height [m]	98	70	63	61.6 – 67.3	57 – 63.2
Diameter [m]	7	3.7	5.4	5.4	5
Cost per Launch [$m]	68	97	70 – 115	110	70
Payload to LEO [kg]	45,000	50,000 – 63,800	10,350 – 21,650	27,200	25,000
Payload to GEO [kg]	13,600	26,700	5,000	7,000	5,100