Blast Off! Blue Origin’s New Glenn to Launch NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission to Mars!
Blue Origin’s New Glenn launch vehicle is anticipated to transport the NASA Mars smallsat mission in the near future, but concerns arise regarding potential delays caused by spacecraft development. In February 2023, both companies revealed their collaboration to launch the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) spacecraft using the New Glenn. Presently, the mission is projected to embark on its inaugural flight with the new launch vehicle by the conclusion of 2024. For further information on the NASA and Blue Origin partnership, click here.
Launch of NASA’s ESCAPADE mission
Spacenews reported that in February, Blue Origin and NASA joined hands on the ESCAPADE mission, which is expected to launch in 2024, but neither company disclosed the budget for the partnership. A federal procurement database later revealed it was $20 million. The source quoted the Advisory Council’s Human Exploration and Operations Committee, Bradley Smith, director of NASA’s Launch Services Office, as saying, “It’s an incredibly ambitious first launch for New Glenn, and we really appreciate the partnership.”
Launching the ESCAPADE mission on a New Glenn launch vehicle was found to be risky, but NASA says it is willing to take the risk associated with the launch and the mission. The launch of the ESCAPADE mission may face some technical challenges during the first launch, but NASA’s biggest concern is schedule risks.
Development of the New Glenn launch vehicle has already been delayed by a year, and Blue Origin has so far not shared an update on its progress. Jarrett Jones, Blue Origin’s vice president of New Glenn, said the company is planning several launches by the end of 2024.
About the ESCAPADE mission
The goal of NASA’s upcoming Mars mission is to study the transfer of solar wind energy and momentum through Mars’ unique hybrid magnetosphere. It is a two-spacecraft mission that allows scientists to conduct in-depth studies of the Martian atmosphere. NASA reports that each identical ESCAPADE spacecraft will have a mass of less than 90 kg.
