🔗 Share this article Jeff Bezos' Space Firm's Second Rocket Launch Delayed Due to Inclement Atmospheric Situation The aerospace company, owned by entrepreneur Jeff Bezos, was forced to delay the eagerly awaited launch of its powerful launch vehicle on Sunday due to adverse weather factors at Cape Canaveral. Launch Delay Reasons Rainfall and a technical problem on the ground led to early setbacks, followed by thick clouds as the narrow time frame for launch ended, leaving mission controllers to push back the vehicle's upcoming flight. Competition between Bezos' firm and Musk's space company has been intensifying in the past few months. Rescheduled Attempt To ease traffic in the skies during the government funding gap, the Federal Aviation Administration is limiting commercial rocket liftoffs from the beginning of the week. After scrubbing the launch, Blue Origin announced late Sunday that, working alongside the FAA, it was aiming for a new try as soon as midweek within a time slot of afternoon hours Eastern Standard time. Mission Objectives Upon successful liftoff, the 98-meter New Glenn rocket will transport the US space agency's Escapade twin spacecraft to Mars, to study the planet’s climate history with the long-term goal of human exploration. Blue Origin’s launch will also act as a key test of whether it can achieve reusable rocket landing, which would represent a technical breakthrough for the firm if accomplished. Previous Flight New Glenn’s inaugural flight in January was considered a success, as its cargo reached space and completed tests. But its first-stage booster, which was designed as recoverable, did not stick its touchdown on a platform in the Atlantic, and instead was lost during the return phase. Recovery Efforts In its second effort Blue Origin will make another attempt to land the first stage. Thus far, only SpaceX has achieved that accomplishment. Industry Competition The competing companies of tycoons Bezos and Musk are locked in a commercial space race that has grown more intense lately, as the space agency began accepting bids for its lunar exploration program, complaining that one company was lagging behind. Donald Trump’s second term has involved the government push NASA to speed up its progress to launch astronauts to the Moon amid a race with China. Increased competition between the two firms could “expand our options with regard to launch.” “More launches means more ideas in orbit,” an ex-agency official said. “It can’t be a bad thing to have Blue Origin, even not in the lead.”