🔗 Share this article Blue Origin's Second Rocket Launch Postponed Due to Poor Weather Conditions Blue Origin, founded by billionaire Jeff Bezos, was forced to delay the highly anticipated liftoff of its powerful launch vehicle on the weekend because of unfavorable meteorological conditions at Cape Canaveral. Launch Delay Causes Rainfall and a ground system issue caused early setbacks, then came cumulus cloud cover as the 88-minute launch window ended, forcing managers to reschedule the rocket’s planned second mission. Rivalry between Blue Origin and Musk's space company has been intensifying in recent months. Rescheduled Attempt To ease airspace congestion during the US federal government shutdown, the Federal Aviation Administration is limiting commercial rocket liftoffs starting Monday. Following the cancellation of the launch, the company said late Sunday that, in coordination with the FAA, it was targeting a new try as early as Wednesday within a window of 2.50pm to 4.17pm Eastern Standard time. Mission Objectives When it eventually launches, the 322-foot tall launch vehicle will carry the US space agency's Escapade twin spacecraft to Mars, in an effort to study the Martian atmospheric past with the long-term goal of human exploration. Blue Origin’s launch will also act as a crucial trial of whether it can achieve booster recovery, which would prove a technical breakthrough for the firm if successful. Previous Flight The rocket's first launch in the start of the year was considered a achievement, as its cargo achieved orbit and completed experiments. But its first-stage booster, which was designed as recoverable, did not stick its touchdown on a platform in the Atlantic, and ended up destroyed during descent. Landing Attempts For this new mission Blue Origin will try once more to land the booster stage. Thus far, only SpaceX has managed that feat. Industry Competition The competing companies of tycoons Musk and Bezos are locked in a private sector space competition that has grown more intense lately, as the space agency opened up bids for its planned moon mission, noting that one company was falling behind schedule. Donald Trump’s second term has involved the administration pile pressure on the agency 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 “give us more choices with regard to launch.” “More launches means more ideas in space,” an ex-agency official said. “It can’t be a negative to have Blue Origin, even trailing behind.”