Blue Origin, the aerospace venture led by Jeff Bezos, faced a setback recently when the launch of its highly anticipated second human-rated New Shepard rocket, NS-27, got deferred owing to a GPS malfunction. The launch, initially set to occur at 9:27 AM EDT on October 13th, was meant to send a newly built rocket-capsule combination into the suborbital space. The mission cancellation comes on the heels of a similar incident just six days prior, which was also called off because of unspecified technical difficulties.
In the wake of this postponement, Blue Origin communicated through a social media platform that they were stepping down from the launch attempt to delve deeper into the GPS issue and find a resolution. The timelines for the adjusted schedule of the launch have not been disclosed yet. This sequential delay has stirred up concerns about the dependability of the systems supporting the New Shepard program, which has effectively carried out 26 missions in the past, with eight carrying astronauts on board.
The NS-27 mission carries significant implications and is being closely watched by the industry, given its status as the launch of Blue Origin’s second human-rated vehicle. The rocket to be launched as part of this mission is of critical importance as it incorporates enhancements aimed at boosting performance and amplifying reusability, bundled with an updated exterior and provisions for additional payloads. This specific mission, though operated without crew, will carry 12 research payloads that also include advanced navigation systems that are earmarked for both the New Shepard and Blue Origin’s larger New Glenn rocket.
This launch is instrumental in the eyes of Blue Origin as it is key to expanding the company’s flight capacity and catering to an ever-increasing customer base keenly interested in suborbital space tourism. The rocket is designed to reach the internationally recognized boundary of outer space, set at 62 miles above Earth known as the Kármán line. The NS-27 mission, therefore, substantially contributes to ongoing research extracting insights relevant to upcoming lunar missions. This includes introducing LIDAR sensors that are to be used for lunar operations.
On a similar note, rival company SpaceX led by innovative entrepreneur Elon Musk embarked on its Starship Flight 5 test mission the same day Blue Origin had its NS-27 mission scheduled. As per reports, this mission included the first-ever Super Heavy booster landing and recovery, marking a major achievement for the company. Simultaneously, SpaceX’s Crew-8 mission, involving the Dragon capsule ‘Endeavour’, was also put on hold while it prepared for disembarking the International Space Station. This was mainly caused by weather concerns, which threatened to impede its journey back to Earth.
Thus, the recent postponements and rescheduling of major launches by big players like Blue Origin and SpaceX serve as a stark reminder to the challenging reality of space exploration and the pioneering role these companies play in the rapidly growing industry of space tourism and research. It is inevitable that these companies will face ongoing technical challenges that must be overcome to ensure the safety and success of their crew and missions. However, these technological roadblocks may inadvertently lead to significant advancements in space exploration technologies, leading to further developments in the thriving arena of space tourism and research.
