This weekend, Blue Origin’s powerful New Glenn rocket is set to launch a NASA mission destined for Mars, offering space enthusiasts a chance to witness the action live. The mission, called ESCAPADE, promises to provide unprecedented insights into the Martian atmosphere and magnetic environment.
The ESCAPADE Mission and Its Goals
ESCAPADE (short for “Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Plasma Dynamics Explorers”) consists of two small spacecraft, Blue and Gold, named after the colors of the University of California, Berkeley. These probes will be the first Mars mission to launch in over five years – since NASA’s Perseverance rover and Ingenuity helicopter took flight in July 2020. Built by Rocket Lab and operated by UC-Berkeley, the $80 million ESCAPADE mission aims to study space weather conditions around Mars.
Launch Details and Viewing Opportunities
The launch is scheduled for Sunday (Nov. 9), from Florida’s Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. It will take place during a 2.5-hour window opening at 2:45 p.m. EDT (1945 GMT). You can watch the event live via Blue Origin, and Space.com will also carry the feed if available.
A Complex Journey to Mars
Following liftoff, Blue and Gold will be propelled toward Earth-sun Lagrange Point 2 (L2) – a gravitationally stable location roughly 930,000 miles (1.5 million kilometers) beyond Earth. The pair will spend a year at L2 observing space weather. In November 2026, they will receive a gravitational boost from Earth, setting them on a trajectory towards Mars. They are expected to reach the Red Planet approximately 10 months later.
This intricate route is dictated by the mechanics of space travel. Earth and Mars only align favorably for interplanetary travel about once every 26 months, with the next optimal window occurring in late 2026.
Scientific Objectives on Mars
Upon reaching Mars, the ESCAPADE probes will spend roughly seven months fine-tuning their orbits before beginning their primary mission. For at least 11 months, the orbiters will fly in a coordinated formation to map the magnetic fields, upper atmosphere, and ionosphere of Mars in three dimensions.
This marks the first time the Martian near-space environment will be observed in stereo, offering a new level of detail.
The data collected will provide vital clues as to how and when Mars lost its atmosphere, which is critical for understanding the planet’s past and potential for future human exploration. Furthermore, it will provide key information about the conditions on Mars that could impact people who land or establish settlements there.
New Glenn: A Powerful New Rocket
Sunday’s launch will also mark the second flight for Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, which is capable of carrying around 50 tons (45 metric tons) of payload to low Earth orbit. The rocket successfully debuted with a test flight on January 16, 2025, sending a prototype of Blue Origin’s Blue Ring spacecraft to orbit. However, the attempt to land New Glenn’s first stage on a ship at sea during that test flight was unsuccessful. Blue Origin will attempt this ambitious landing maneuver again on Sunday, promising an exciting spectacle for viewers.
