As the New Glenn rocket heads east, it will break the sound barrier in just over a minute. After it climbs through the stratosphere, the seven booster engines will shut down. A little over three minutes into the flight, the first stage will detach, making way for the twin BE-3U engines. These engines use liquid hydrogen to propel the ESCAPADE satellites toward deep space, targeting a stable region known as the L2 Lagrange point, beyond the Moon. Here, the satellites will wait for the perfect moment to venture to Mars.
Meanwhile, the impressive New Glenn booster, standing nearly 20 stories tall, will begin its return journey. It will maneuver towards a recovery ship anchored in the Atlantic Ocean, a few hundred miles away. The descent will include a landing burn using three BE-4 engines, then it will switch to a single engine for a gentle touchdown. The landing platform is named “Jacklyn” in memory of Jeff Bezos’ late mother.
New Glenn’s first launch earlier this year went well initially, but the booster faced challenges when it crashed into the ocean due to engine failure during its descent. However, improvements have been made. Laura Maginnis, Blue Origin’s vice president of New Glenn mission management, expressed optimism, stating, “We’ve made changes to our propellant management system to increase our chances of a successful landing this time.” This adjustment pushed the timeline from January to now.
Blue Origin is hopeful for a successful landing this mission. Plans are already in the works for this booster to launch again in early next year, carrying the first Blue Moon cargo lander to the Moon.
Maginnis highlighted the mission’s primary goal: “Our top priority is to ensure ESCAPADE reaches its destination safely, and we also aim to land our booster. If it doesn’t land, that’s okay; we have more vehicles in production. We’re excited to see how everything unfolds.”
The satellites’ journey resembles a kidney bean shape. In astrodynamics, this unique orbit is known as a staging or libration orbit, designed to keep the spacecraft stable while waiting for the right time to travel to Mars, expected late next year.
In recent studies, researchers emphasized the importance of such missions. The data collected helps scientists understand not only our solar system but also prepares us for future exploration beyond. According to NASA, missions like ESCAPADE will gather crucial data about our neighboring planets and possibly uncover new insights about Martian environments.
