New Glenn to Launch NASA Mars Mission This Week
On November 9, Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket will undertake its second mission, carrying NASA’s ESCAPADE probes to Mars. In addition to this, notable launches include Europe’s Sentinel-1D satellite, ULA’s deployment of the large ViaSat-3 F2 satellite, along with several launches from SpaceX and China.
Blue Origin's New Glenn Mission
The main highlight this week is the New Glenn heavy-lift rocket’s second flight, scheduled from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than Sunday, November 9. This mission follows the rocket's initial launch in January and marks its first operational flight carrying a NASA scientific payload.
ESCAPADE Payload Details
The ESCAPADE mission consists of two identical small satellites named “Blue” and “Gold.” These twin probes were built by Rocket Lab and are part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program.
“Once they arrive at Mars, the two spacecraft will enter complementary orbits to study the planet’s unique magnetosphere.”
The probes aim to investigate how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ atmosphere, causing it to gradually escape into space. This dual-satellite view will provide scientists with a real-time, three-dimensional understanding of atmospheric loss, addressing how Mars transformed from a wetter, warmer planet into its current state.
Rocket Specifications and Preparations
The New Glenn rocket stands 321 feet (98 meters) tall and recently completed a successful static fire test of its seven BE-4 engines in October, ensuring readiness for the upcoming launch.
Author’s summary: Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket will carry NASA’s twin ESCAPADE satellites to Mars, aiming to decode how solar wind strips the Martian atmosphere and shaped the planet’s climate history.