New Glenn is rolling to the launch pad! (It's just visible through the trees as we've seen before) Watch live: http://nsf.live/spacecoast

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We still looking good for 1AM EST launch target?

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u/Colossal_Rockets 1d ago

Although launch weather is looking great at a 95% probability of acceptable weather at the Cape, the downrange weather at the Atlantic landing site isn't looking too good right now, even with a couple days delay.

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u/SpaceRangerOps 1d ago

Launch attempt slipping to Sunday the 12th.

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u/ragner11 1d ago

Seriously ?

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u/SpaceRangerOps 1d ago

Yeah, Blue tweeted it out.

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u/CollegeStation17155 1d ago

Good move; you may recall what happened to the Falcon Heavy core they recovered successfully... even with the spot welding or spike gun that Blue has proposed, there's not need to stress test it right off the bat.

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u/MartianFromBaseAlpha 1d ago

It's time for an official dedicated launch/party thread. What do you say?

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u/Colossal_Rockets 1d ago

Spaceflight Now also has live cameras at the Cape and their camera on LC-36 is not only at a different angle than NSF's, but doesn't have those annoying trees in the way!

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u/Simon_Drake 1d ago

Why are they launching at 1am? That'll be the middle of the night at the launchpad AND at the landing zone with the ship AND the Blue Origin headquarters.

The payload is a pathfinder for a kickstage / satellite bus / payload deployment facilitator platform. It's not deploying anything 'real' so it doesn't need to target a specific orbit like a telecoms satellite or moon probe would need to do.

So why launch in the middle of the night, is it to avoid bad weather?

EDIT: They just announced a delay until Sunday due to bad weather, but they're still launching at 1am. There must be a reason for choosing 1am, I just can't guess why.

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u/SpaceRangerOps 1d ago

Since it’s a new heavy-lift rocket, New Glenn likely has a large “safety” zone in the event of an anomaly. Because of this zone, most of CCSFS would probably be forced to relocate during the count. Launching in the middle of the night is the least disruptive to operations on station.

It’s not like Starbase in Texas where SpaceX controls the entire launch site and doesn’t have to accommodate other tenants.

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u/Not-the-best-name 1d ago

As well as flight traffic

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u/SpaceRangerOps 1d ago edited 1d ago

I wonder if they’re still waiting on a certain approval to come or if they’re just pushing through anyway.

edit: y’all can downvote me but it doesn’t make it any less true. I was genuinely curious if approval came through. Those that know, know what I’m talking about. It’s not a slight on Blue.

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u/Helpme-jkimdumb 1d ago

Which approval? FAA New Glenn part 450 license is already public and has been since 12/27/2024.

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u/SpaceRangerOps 1d ago

It’s not the FAA. More local. I’ve heard some scuttlebutt around the Cape regarding a pending sign-off that is yet to come. Won’t get into the specifics since it’s not my place to say.

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u/Helpme-jkimdumb 1d ago

Ah so you’re talking range approval from space force?