Last Updated on November 15, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Image Credit: Ble Origin

New Glenn Successfully Launches NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission — And Nails a Historic Reusable Booster Landing

In a milestone moment for commercial spaceflight and NASA’s next wave of planetary science missions, Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully launched the agency’s ESCAPADE mission on Thursday, November 13, 2025. The massive orbital-class booster—powered by seven BE-4 engines—lifted off at 3:55:01 PM EST from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station and completed every objective of its second mission.

Not only did New Glenn deploy NASA’s twin ESCAPADE spacecraft into their planned loiter orbit, but it also achieved a precision landing of its fully reusable first stage on Jacklyn in the Atlantic Ocean—an unprecedented feat for a booster of this size on its second attempt.

“We achieved full mission success today, and I am so proud of the team,” said Dave Limp, CEO of Blue Origin. “Never before in history has a booster this large nailed the landing on the second try. This is just the beginning as we rapidly scale our flight cadence and continue delivering for our customers.”

ESCAPADE: Preparing for Mars’ Next Close Approach

The ESCAPADE mission—short for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers—consists of two nearly identical spacecraft that will begin their journey to Mars when the planets reach optimal alignment in fall 2026. Their science goal: to understand how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ patchy magnetic field and how this ongoing tug-of-war contributes to the loss of the Martian atmosphere.

By mapping these solar-atmospheric interactions in tandem, ESCAPADE will deepen scientists’ understanding of how Mars transitioned from a warm, water-rich world to the cold desert planet we know today.

The mission also supported another technology milestone: Viasat’s HaloNet demonstration aboard New Glenn’s second stage completed its first telemetry data relay test for NASA’s Communications Services Project—an important step toward next-generation space communications architectures.

NASA Praises the Mission’s Scientific and Operational Impact

NASA’s acting Administrator, Secretary Sean Duffy, highlighted both the scientific significance and the broader implications for future human exploration:

“Congratulations to Blue Origin, Rocket Lab, UC Berkeley, and all of our partners on the successful launch of ESCAPADE. This heliophysics mission will help reveal how Mars became a desert planet, and how solar eruptions affect the Martian surface.”

He also emphasized New Glenn’s growing importance as NASA prepares for its next major programs:

“Every launch of New Glenn provides data that will be essential when we launch MK-1 through Artemis. All of this information will be critical to protect future NASA explorers and invaluable as we evaluate how to deliver on President Trump’s vision of planting the Stars and Stripes on Mars.”

A Cornerstone Vehicle for NASA, Commercial Customers, and National Security

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New Glenn is increasingly positioned as a foundational launch system for government, commercial, and defense customers. The rocket underpins Blue Origin’s long-term plans ranging from sustained human lunar operations to in-space resource utilization and multi-orbit logistics through its Blue Ring spacecraft platform.

The program currently has multiple vehicles in production and a growing multiyear manifest. In addition to NASA and Viasat, future New Glenn customers include:

Amazon’s Project Kuiper AST SpaceMobile Multiple international telecommunications providers

The flight also served as New Glenn’s second certification mission for the National Security Space Launch (NSSL) program, bringing Blue Origin closer to full qualification for U.S. Space Force missions.

Jordan Charles, Vice President of New Glenn, said the company’s focus now turns to rapid reusability and increasing launch tempo:

“Today was a tremendous achievement for the New Glenn team, opening a new era for Blue Origin and the industry as we look to launch, land, repeat, again and again. We’ve made significant progress on manufacturing at rate and building ahead of need.”

A New Era of Heavy-Lift Reusability Begins

Blue Origin’s flawless execution of the ESCAPADE mission—and the successful recovery of its giant reusable booster—signals a major shift in the competitive landscape of heavy-lift launch. As New Glenn scales up its flight cadence, the company is positioning itself as a central player in the future of lunar exploration, Mars science, commercial broadband networks, and national security space.

With New Glenn now demonstrating repeatable performance and reusability, the space industry has officially entered a new chapter—one defined by larger vehicles, more complex missions, and the accelerating normalization of landing, refurbishing, and re-flying orbital-class boosters.

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/

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Dodger Gondola Project Faces Major Setbacks as L.A. Leaders and Residents Push Back

For years, the Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART) — better known as the Dodger Gondola Project — has been pitched as a bold, futuristic connection between Union Station and Dodger Stadium, whisking riders above traffic in a six-minute aerial trip. Supporters call it L.A.’s chance to build a cleaner, faster, iconic transit link. But as 2025 winds toward its close, the project faces more turbulence than ever.

A Quick Refresher: What the Gondola Would Be

The proposed gondola line would travel about 1.2 miles, with stations at Union Station, a stop near L.A. State Historic Park, and Dodger Stadium. Private backers connected to former Dodgers owner Frank McCourt have promoted it as a zero-emission way to move more than 5,000 passengers per hour on game days — and potentially daily for tourists, residents, and park visitors.

Why the Dream Is Stalling

In November 2025, the Los Angeles City Council voted 12–1 to formally oppose the project, urging Metro to abandon it. While the vote isn’t legally binding, it signaled a major political shift. Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, who introduced the resolution, cited environmental and community concerns — especially the impact on Chinatown, Solano Canyon, and L.A. State Historic Park.

A California Court of Appeals ruling earlier in the year also struck down Metro’s original environmental review, forcing a supplemental EIR that reopened debates about tree removal, tower placement, noise, and neighborhood impacts. The city has additionally ordered a comprehensive traffic study, pausing key permits until it’s complete.

Communities Speak Out

Local opposition has been strong and well-organized. Residents warn the gondola would remove mature trees, alter the character of the State Historic Park, and intrude over communities that have already shouldered decades of infrastructure burdens. Advocacy groups say the project favors private interests over public need, pointing to the lack of a clear long-term funding or maintenance plan.

Not Dead — But Deeply Uncertain

Despite mounting challenges, the gondola isn’t entirely grounded. Metro is still reviewing public comments on the supplemental environmental report, and state lawmakers are debating legislation that could streamline some project requirements. Whether those efforts succeed — or whether political pressure ultimately stalls the gondola indefinitely — remains to be seen.

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The Big Picture

The Dodger Gondola Project sits at the intersection of transit innovation, environmental justice, and the future of Los Angeles mobility. For supporters, it represents a chance to modernize travel to one of the nation’s most visited stadiums. For opponents, it’s an unnecessary experiment that risks community space and public resources.

Either way, the next year will be pivotal — and L.A.’s debate over the gondola is far from over.

Sources and links for further information

Associated Press: “Los Angeles officials seek to halt proposed Dodger Stadium gondola” — apnews.com 

Los Angeles Times: “Los Angeles City Council votes 12-1 to urge Metro to halt Dodgers gondola project” — latimes.com 

NBC Los Angeles: “Dodger Stadium gondola should be a no-go, LA City Council says” — nbclosangeles.com 

PR Newswire (project press release): “LA ART Gondola Project Takes Next Step Forward … with Release of Draft Supplemental Environmental Report” — prnewswire.com 

LAist: “Controversial Dodger Stadium gondola project gets new environmental report. Here’s how you can weigh in” — laist.com 

Official Metro page: “Los Angeles Aerial Rapid Transit (LA ART)” — metro.net 

Site for public comment: “Stop The Gondola – Public Comment” — stopthegondola.org 

CEQA Notice of Availability: “Draft Supplemental Environmental Impact Report – LA ART Project” — ceqanet.lci.ca.gov 

NASA’s experimental X-59 QueSST, also known as the “flying swordfish,” has officially made its first test flight, marking a major milestone in the future of quiet supersonic travel. Developed in partnership with Lockheed Martin, the sleek, needle-nosed aircraft lifted off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, California, on October 28, 2025, and safely landed at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center.

While the maiden flight was subsonic, reaching speeds of around 230 miles per hour at 12,000 feet, it successfully demonstrated the aircraft’s fundamental systems and stability. Future test flights will push the X-59 to supersonic speeds, where NASA will evaluate its ability to drastically reduce the loud “sonic boom” to a soft “sonic thump.” The ultimate goal of the Quesst program is to pave the way for regulations that could one day allow commercial supersonic flights over land, revolutionizing air travel as we know it.

(Sources: Live Science, NASA, Lockheed Martin)

The science section of our news blog STM Daily News provides readers with captivating and up-to-date information on the latest scientific discoveries, breakthroughs, and innovations across various fields. We offer engaging and accessible content, ensuring that readers with different levels of scientific knowledge can stay informed. Whether it’s exploring advancements in medicine, astronomy, technology, or environmental sciences, our science section strives to shed light on the intriguing world of scientific exploration and its profound impact on our daily lives. From thought-provoking articles to informative interviews with experts in the field, STM Daily News Science offers a harmonious blend of factual reporting, analysis, and exploration, making it a go-to source for science enthusiasts and curious minds alike. https://stmdailynews.com/category/science/