The 95-meter-tall New Glenn rocket from Blue Origin will carry two NASA spacecraft to Mars’ orbit to study the planet’s magnetosphere.
Simulation of the ESCAPADE spacecraft orbiting Mars. (Image: Rocket Lab).
NASA selected Blue Origin to launch the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) Mars mission in an announcement on February 9. The pair of spacecraft is scheduled to launch at the end of 2024 aboard Blue Origin’s upcoming New Glenn rocket, provided the rocket is ready in time.
The ESCAPADE mission is expected to study the magnetosphere and the magnetic region in Mars’ atmosphere using the duo of spacecraft designed by Rocket Lab. The two spacecraft will orbit Mars to examine how solar winds are gradually thinning the atmosphere. The mission’s results may allow scientists to learn more about the process that has led the Red Planet to become increasingly dry over time, as Mars had flowing water on its surface billions of years ago.
Blue Origin is among the 13 companies selected by NASA in 2022 for launch services under the Venture-Class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare (VADR) program. NASA did not disclose the financial details of the contract, but according to SpaceNews, the contract is valued at $20 million. According to NASA, VADR presents a new opportunity to transport scientific and technological equipment, helping to enhance the growing commercial launch market in the United States.
Blue Origin is currently transporting people and cargo using a smaller suborbital rocket named New Shepard. This booster experienced an incident during an uncrewed flight on September 12, 2022. Once ready, New Glenn will come in two versions: a two-stage and a three-stage variant, aimed at reaching orbit and further destinations. The rocket stands at 95 meters tall, five times the height of the New Shepard rocket (18 meters).
