The expected double launch of a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket as well as Elon Musk’s giant Starship, both initially expected to launch on January 10th, have been delayed.

The problem is the weather which for the Jeff Bezos-backed New Glenn rocket is at least one of the problems. One report says that the Florida weather suggests that the down-range recovery zone Atlantic weather is less than ideal. As this is written it seems January 12th is the earliest for the New Glenn recoverable rocket. The reason is the high sea state in the Atlantic down range, says Blue Origin.

Musk’s Starship, also originally planned for its seventh flight on January 10th, is likely to now launch on January 13th from its Starbase (South Texas) Boca Chica launch site. The upcoming flight test will launch a new generation ship with significant upgrades, attempt Starship’s first payload deployment test, fly multiple re-entry experiments geared towards ship catch and reuse, and launch and return the Super Heavy booster.

While in space, Starship will deploy 10 Starlink simulators, similar in size and weight to next-generation Starlink satellites as the first exercise of a satellite deploy mission. The Starlink simulators will be on the same suborbital trajectory as Starship, with splashdown targeted in the Indian Ocean. A relight of a single Raptor engine while in space is also planned.

A statement from SpaceX said: “Distinct vehicle and pad criteria must be met prior to a return and catch of the Super Heavy booster, requiring healthy systems on the booster and tower and a final manual command from the mission’s Flight Director. If this command is not sent prior to the completion of the boostback burn, or if automated health checks show unacceptable conditions with Super Heavy or the tower, the booster will default to a trajectory that takes it to a landing burn and soft splashdown in the Gulf of Mexico. We accept no compromises when it comes to ensuring the safety of the public and our team, and the return will only take place if conditions are right.”

Other posts by Chris Forrester:

1. ITU’s hands are tied on space jamming
2. Bank: Canal+ on a “super aggregation” strategy
3. Italy: Confusion over Starlink contract
4. Bezos vs Musk on Jan 10th
5. SES has eyes on D2D
6. Eutelsat suffers flak over OneWeb outage
7. New Glenn will challenge SpaceX
8. Credit agency downgrades Eutelsat
9. SES hints Dividend uplift

Categories: Blogs, Broadband, Inside Satellite, Satellite

Tags: elon musk, Jeff Bezos, satellite, starlink