Blue Origin plans second launch of New Glenn mega rocket on Nov. 9

Jeff Bezos’ space company Blue Origin has announced that it is ready to conduct a second launch of its super-heavy New Glenn rocket. The attempt will take place as early as Sunday, Nov. 9, from Launch Complex 36 in Cape Canaveral, Fla.

The first launch of New Glenn took place in January of this year and was generally successful. The rocket’s second stage successfully reached orbit, but the first stage exploded on re-entry before Blue Origin could attempt to land it on an autonomous offshore platform.

The company had previously said the re-launch was planned for «late spring» but the schedule was repeatedly rescheduled. Blue Origin is being especially cautious this time around because the rocket will carry a commercial payload. The main payload will be two NASA spacecraft — the ESCAPADE mission bound for Mars. Also on board will be Viasat’s technology demonstrator.