🔗 Share this article Jeff Bezos' Space Firm's Latest Mission Postponed Because of Inclement Weather Conditions The aerospace company, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, had to postpone the eagerly awaited launch of its New Glenn rocket on the weekend because of adverse meteorological conditions at the Florida launch site. Launch Delay Causes Precipitation and a technical problem on the ground caused early setbacks, then came thick clouds as the narrow time frame for launch ended, forcing managers to reschedule the rocket’s planned second mission. Rivalry between Blue Origin and Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been heating up in recent months. New Launch Window To ease airspace congestion during the government funding gap, the Federal Aviation Administration is limiting private space launches from the beginning of the week. After scrubbing the launch, Blue Origin said late Sunday that, in coordination with the regulatory body, it was targeting a new try as early as midweek within a time slot of afternoon hours EST. Launch Goals Upon successful liftoff, the 322-foot New Glenn rocket will transport the US space agency's Escapade twin spacecraft to the Red Planet, in an effort to examine the Martian atmospheric past with the long-term goal of human exploration. Blue Origin’s launch will also act as a key test of its ability to perform reusable rocket landing, which would prove a major advancement for the company if successful. Previous Flight The rocket's first launch in January was considered a achievement, as its payload achieved orbit and completed experiments. But its main rocket section, which was meant to be reusable, failed to make 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 make another attempt to recover the first stage. Thus far, only Musk’s company SpaceX has managed that feat. Space Race The competing companies of tycoons Musk and Bezos are locked in a commercial space race that recently escalated, as NASA began accepting proposals for its lunar exploration program, complaining that one company was falling behind schedule. The current administration has seen the administration push NASA to speed up its timeline to launch astronauts to the Moon in competition against China. Increased competition between SpaceX and Blue Origin could “expand our options with regard to launch.” “Additional missions means more ideas in space,” an ex-agency official stated. “It isn't a negative to have the competitor, even not in the lead.”