Cape Canaveral: Blue Origin achieved a major milestone on Thursday with the successful launch of its New Glenn rocket on a mission carrying two NASA spacecraft to Mars. The flight marked the companys first major science mission for the space agency and a significant step forward in its plans to compete in the heavy lift launch market.

The rocket lifted off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida carrying NASAs twin ESCAPADE satellites. The small spacecraft will study how the solar wind affects the Martian atmosphere and magnetic field. They will remain in an Earth orbit for some time before beginning their long journey toward Mars in 2027.

The launch was also notable for another reason. For the first time Blue Origin managed to land the New Glenn first stage on an ocean pla

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