New Glenn to Launch NASA Mars Mission This Week
Starting November 9, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket will embark on its second mission, carrying NASA's ESCAPADE probes to Mars. Other key launches this week include Europe's Sentinel-1D satellite, ULA's deployment of the ViaSat-3 F2 satellite, and several missions from SpaceX and China.
Blue Origin’s New Glenn Second Flight
The highlight of the week is the second launch of Blue Origin’s heavy-lift New Glenn rocket, scheduled to lift off from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than Sunday, November 9. This flight marks the rocket’s first operational mission following its debut flight in January.
ESCAPADE Mission Overview
The New Glenn will carry NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission, consisting of two identical small satellites built by Rocket Lab. These twin probes, named “Blue” and “Gold,” are part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program.
Mission Objectives
Upon reaching Mars, the pair will enter complementary orbits to investigate the planet’s magnetosphere. Their main goal is to understand how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ atmosphere, gradually stripping it away over time.
“This dual-satellite view will give scientists a real-time, 3D picture of atmospheric escape, helping to solve the puzzle of how Mars lost its ancient, watery climate.”
Technical Details
The 321-foot-tall (98-meter) New Glenn rocket recently completed a successful static fire test of its seven BE-4 engines in October, confirming its readiness for this mission.
The ESCAPADE mission promises to provide valuable insights into Martian atmospheric loss and the planet’s climate history.
Author's summary: Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is set for its first NASA science mission, carrying dual ESCAPADE probes to Mars to study atmospheric loss and the planet’s magnetosphere in unprecedented detail.