NASA’s Escapade Mars Mission Tests Jeff Bezos’ New Glenn Rocket

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket is poised for its second launch, tasked with an important mission to Mars. This towering 322-foot (98-meter) vehicle will lift off from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station, Florida. The launch window opens on Sunday at 2:45 p.m. ET and lasts for 88 minutes. Blue Origin plans to stream the event live on its website.

Launch Conditions and Delays

Weather could impact the launch, with forecasts indicating a 35% to 45% chance of unfavorable conditions. If necessary, Blue Origin has the option to attempt a reschedule on Sunday and Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has recently imposed restrictions on commercial launches, limiting them to hours outside of 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET due to a government shutdown.

New Glenn’s Mission and Objectives

New Glenn’s primary objective is to deploy twin spacecraft as part of the Escapade mission, which stands for Escape and Plasma Acceleration Dynamics Explorers. This NASA-funded initiative, guided by the University of California, Berkeley, also receives support from companies like Advanced Space and Rocket Lab.

Rocket Recovery Efforts

Blue Origin aims to recover the New Glenn’s first-stage booster using a seafaring barge named Jacklyn. This method is similar to SpaceX’s booster recovery, emphasizing cost efficiency through partial reuse of rocket components.

• Previous NASA mission: Successfully delivered the Blue Ring Pathfinder test satellite.
• Post-launch recovery: The January flight intended to recover the booster failed due to engine issues.
• Adjustments made: Improvements to the propellant management system aim to enhance landing success.

Future Launch Plans

The next flight for New Glenn aims to deliver a lunar lander known as Mark 1 to the moon, although a specific launch date has not yet been set. Following this, after orbiting Earth, the twin satellites will journey toward Mars, expected to arrive by 2027.

Scientific Goals of the Escapade Mission

The twin spacecraft will investigate Mars’ atmospheric loss over billions of years and the planet’s challenging climate conditions. Robert Lillis, the mission’s principal investigator, highlights the importance of gathering space weather data to protect future endeavors on Mars.

• Mission goals include: Understanding solar storms’ impact on astronauts.
• Future exploration: Determine how Mars’ climate affects human missions.

As this mission unfolds, Blue Origin emphasizes the collaborative efforts with NASA and FAA, ensuring airspace regulations are respected while pursuing scientific discovery.