Blue Origin’s New Glenn Completes First Flight, carrying NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission Toward Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, FL – Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket successfully concluded its inaugural flight late Thursday, delivering NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission on a multi-year journey to teh red planet. The launch, originating from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, marks a pivotal moment for both Blue Origin’s ambitions in space launch and NASA’s preparations for future human missions to Mars.
The ESCAPADE mission, comprised of two spacecraft built by Rocket Lab and managed by the University of California, Berkeley, represents a cost-effective approach to studying the Martian environment. Developed on an $80 million budget – substantially less than recent NASA Mars endeavors – ESCAPADE aims to improve understanding of Martian space weather, a critical factor in protecting future astronauts and robotic systems. The New Glenn launch cost NASA approximately $20 million, a fraction of the price of alternative launch options.
Following the launch, Rocket Lab ground controllers confirmed dialogue with both ESCAPADE satellites. The spacecraft will now enter a unique orbit over a million miles from Earth,remaining there until November 2024,when they will begin their trajectory toward Mars. Arrival at Mars is anticipated in September 2027, with the science mission commencing in 2028.
“Understanding Martian space weather is a top priority for future missions as it helps us protect systems, robots, and most importantly, humans, in extreme environments,” stated Nicky Fox, associate administrator of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate.
the New Glenn’s first flight was originally slated for 2023, but was delayed due to development challenges. This mission marks the first use of the New Glenn rocket for a NASA mission, as the vehicle has not yet been fully certified by NASA or the Space Force for high-profile government launches. Each ESCAPADE spacecraft weighs approximately half a ton when fully fueled.
