New Glenn to launch NASA Mars mission this week

New Glenn to Launch NASA Mars Mission This Week

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket is scheduled for its second flight on November 9, carrying NASA's ESCAPADE probes to Mars. This launch marks the rocket's first operational mission for a NASA science payload after its debut flight in January.

Launch Details

The heavy-lift New Glenn rocket will lift off from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station no earlier than Sunday, November 9.

ESCAPADE Mission Overview

ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) consists of two identical small satellites known as "Blue" and "Gold." Built by Rocket Lab, these probes are part of NASA's Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration (SIMPLEx) program.

Mission Objectives

The twin spacecraft will enter complementary orbits around Mars to study its unique magnetosphere. Their primary goal is to observe how the solar wind interacts with Mars’ atmosphere and how it gradually strips it away.

"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."

Additional Upcoming Space Missions

New Glenn Rocket Status

The 321-foot-tall (98-meter) New Glenn rocket recently completed a successful static fire test of its seven BE-4 engines in October, validating its readiness for flight.

Author’s summary: The upcoming New Glenn launch will advance Mars exploration by deploying NASA’s twin ESCAPADE probes to study atmospheric loss, promising new insights into the planet’s climate history.

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Astronomy Magazine Astronomy Magazine — 2025-11-04

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