Blue Origin’s second New Glenn rocket is gearing up for its launch on Sunday, November 9. This flight will carry two NASA satellites on a mission to Mars and a technology demonstration for Viasat.
Standing 321 feet tall, the rocket is set to blast off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station at 2:45 p.m. EST. The launch window lasts for 88 minutes. The weather looks promising, with a 65% chance of clear skies, although thunderstorms may develop as the day progresses.
The first stage booster, named ‘Never Tell Me the Odds’, will attempt to land on a barge after returning to Earth. Blue Origin aims to reuse this booster on a future flight, and their CEO, Dave Limp, assures the company has plenty of boosters in production if this one doesn’t return successfully.
This mission marks the New Glenn rocket’s inaugural carrying of customer payloads. The two ESCAPADE spacecraft were encapsulated in the rocket’s payload fairings on October 31. Once in space, they will deploy about 33 minutes after launch.
NASA’s ESCAPADE mission aims to further understand Mars’ magnetosphere and its interactions with space weather, crucial for learning about the planet’s atmosphere loss over time. This mission is spearheaded by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center and the University of California, Berkeley.
The ESCAPADE mission is unique because it was developed rapidly—within three and a half years. In contrast, significant Mars explorations often take around a decade. This speed is made possible due to its smaller scale and risk tolerance, allowing for a tighter timeline and lower costs.
As the spacecraft prepare for their journey, Rocket Lab’s tools and technology will play a key role. They built the ESCAPADE satellites on their Explorer satellite bus, which features high fuel efficiency crucial for deep space missions.
The satellite duo will take a year in Earth orbit before starting their 10-month journey to Mars. The mission aims to collect data from June 2028 to May 2029, giving us insights into the Red Planet’s history.
As we watch this mission unfold, public interest grows, with social media buzzing about its potential impact on our understanding of Mars. With government space programs and private companies like Blue Origin and Rocket Lab collaborating, space exploration is entering an exciting new era.
This mission not only represents a significant step in our quest to explore Mars but also shows how rapidly technology is evolving to meet these challenges. The ESCAPADE mission is a testament to how global collaboration and innovation can push the boundaries of what we know about our solar system.
For more information on NASA’s missions, you can visit NASA’s official website.
