🔗 Share this article Jeff Bezos' Space Firm's Latest Rocket Launch Delayed Because of Inclement Atmospheric Situation The aerospace company, owned by billionaire Jeff Bezos, had to delay the eagerly awaited liftoff of its powerful launch vehicle on the weekend because of unfavorable meteorological factors at the Florida launch site. Launch Delay Causes Rainfall and a technical problem on the ground led to initial delays, followed by cumulus cloud cover as the narrow time frame for launch ended, leaving managers to push back the rocket’s planned second mission. Rivalry between Bezos' firm and Elon Musk’s SpaceX has been intensifying in recent months. Rescheduled Attempt To relieve airspace congestion during the US federal government shutdown, the aviation regulator is limiting private space launches from Monday. Following the cancellation of the launch, Blue Origin said late Sunday that, working alongside the FAA, it was targeting another attempt as early as Wednesday within a time slot of afternoon hours Eastern Standard time. Mission Objectives When it eventually launches, the 322-foot New Glenn rocket will carry the US space agency's two Mars-bound probes to the Red Planet, to examine the planet’s climate history with the long-term goal of sending people there. The mission will also serve as a crucial trial of its ability to perform booster recovery, which would prove a major advancement for the firm if successful. Previous Flight The rocket's first launch in the start of the year was considered a achievement, as its cargo achieved orbit and completed tests. But its main rocket section, which was meant to be reusable, failed to make its landing on a ocean-based target in the Atlantic, and instead was lost during descent. Recovery Efforts In its second effort the launch provider will try once more to recover the first stage. Until now, only Musk’s company SpaceX has achieved that accomplishment. Space Race Rival firms of billionaires Bezos and Musk are engaged in a private sector space competition that recently escalated, as NASA began accepting proposals for its planned moon mission, noting that SpaceX was lagging behind. Donald Trump’s second term has involved the administration pile pressure on NASA to accelerate its progress to launch astronauts to the lunar surface in competition against China. More rivalry between the two firms could “give us more choices with regard to liftoff.” “More launches means more ideas in orbit,” an ex-agency official said. “It isn't a negative to have the competitor, even not in the lead.”