🔗 Share this article Jeff Bezos' Space Firm's Latest Rocket Launch Delayed Due to Poor Atmospheric Situation The aerospace company, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was forced to delay the eagerly awaited launch of its New Glenn rocket on the weekend due to adverse weather factors at the Florida launch site. Mission Postponement Reasons Precipitation and a technical problem on the ground caused early setbacks, then came thick clouds as the 88-minute launch window closed, leaving managers to reschedule the rocket’s planned second mission. Competition between Blue Origin and Musk's space company has been heating up in recent months. New Launch Window To ease airspace congestion amid the US federal government shutdown, the aviation regulator is limiting private space launches starting Monday. After scrubbing the mission, Blue Origin said on Sunday evening that, in coordination with the regulatory body, it was targeting a new try as soon as midweek within a time slot of afternoon hours Eastern Standard time. Mission Objectives When it eventually launches, the 98-meter tall launch vehicle will carry the US space agency's Escapade twin spacecraft to the Red Planet, in an effort to examine the planet’s climate history with the eventual hope of human exploration. Blue Origin’s launch will also serve as a key test of its ability to perform reusable rocket landing, which would prove a major advancement for the company if accomplished. Previous Flight The rocket's first launch in the start of the year was considered a success, as its cargo reached space and successfully performed experiments. But its first-stage booster, which was designed as recoverable, did not stick its landing on a ocean-based target in the ocean, and instead was lost during descent. Recovery Efforts In its second effort Blue Origin will try once more to land the booster stage. Until now, only Musk’s company SpaceX has managed that feat. Industry Competition The competing companies of tycoons Musk and Bezos are locked in a commercial space race that recently escalated, as NASA began accepting bids for its planned moon mission, complaining that one company was lagging behind. Donald Trump’s second term has seen the government pile pressure on NASA to accelerate its timeline to launch astronauts to the Moon amid a race with the Asian nation. More rivalry between SpaceX and Blue Origin could “expand our options with regard to launch.” “More launches means greater innovation in space,” an ex-agency official stated. “It can’t be a negative to have the competitor, even not in the lead.”