Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket successfully launched from Cape Canaveral, Florida, on Thursday, carrying a pair of NASA spacecraft destined for Mars. The mission, known as ESCAPADE, marks a significant milestone for both Blue Origin's heavy-lift vehicle and NASA's program for smaller, cost-effective planetary science missions.
The rocket lifted off from Space Launch Complex 36, embarking on its second-ever flight. A key objective of this launch is the first-ever attempt to land New Glenn's reusable first-stage booster on a sea-based platform hundreds of miles offshore.
Key Takeaways
- Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket has launched NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft to study Mars' magnetosphere.
- The launch is the second for the New Glenn vehicle and includes the first attempt to land its reusable booster on the sea platform 'Jaclyn'.
- The ESCAPADE mission will follow an unconventional, multi-year trajectory, arriving at Mars in the fall of 2027.
- The mission is part of NASA's SIMPLEx program, which aims to conduct high-value science with smaller, lower-cost spacecraft.
A New Heavy-Lift Competitor Takes Flight
The launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station introduces a formidable new vehicle to the space industry. Standing over 320 feet (98 meters) tall, the New Glenn is one of the largest rockets currently in operation. Its primary mission is to provide heavy-lift launch services for commercial and government customers.
The rocket's first stage is powered by seven BE-4 engines, which are fueled by liquefied natural gas. Together, these engines generate more than 3.8 million pounds of thrust at liftoff. Blue Origin designed this stage for extensive reuse, with a target of flying at least 25 missions before retirement.
The historic Launch Complex 36, now home to New Glenn, was previously used for over 140 Atlas rocket launches, including NASA's early Mariner, Pioneer, and Surveyor missions to explore the solar system.
A critical test during today's flight is the recovery of the first stage. After separating from the second stage, the booster is programmed to autonomously descend and land on 'Jaclyn,' Blue Origin's landing platform positioned in the Atlantic Ocean. A successful recovery and refurbishment would validate the company's strategy for reducing launch costs.
Advanced Rocket Technology
The New Glenn's upper stage is powered by two BE-3U engines, optimized for operation in the vacuum of space. These liquid oxygen and liquid hydrogen engines provide the final push needed to place payloads into their correct orbits.
For the ESCAPADE mission, the twin spacecraft are housed inside a seven-meter payload fairing, which offers significantly more volume than the five-meter fairings common on other commercial rockets. This larger capacity is designed to accommodate bigger satellites and multiple smaller payloads on a single launch.
The Long Journey to the Red Planet
The ESCAPADE mission, short for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, has an unusual and lengthy flight plan. Due to the current alignment of Earth and Mars, a direct, fuel-efficient trajectory is not possible. Instead, the spacecraft will take a roundabout route.
After separating from the New Glenn's upper stage, the twin probes will enter a temporary "loiter orbit" near a point of gravitational stability known as Lagrange point 2, located about one million miles from Earth.
What is a Lagrange Point?
Lagrange points are positions in space where the gravitational forces of two large bodies, such as the Sun and the Earth, produce enhanced regions of attraction and repulsion. Objects placed at these points can maintain a stable position relative to the larger bodies, making them ideal locations for observatories and staging points for missions.
The spacecraft will remain in this orbit until the fall of 2026, when the planets align favorably. At that point, they will use an Earth gravity assist to slingshot themselves onto a path toward Mars. The expected arrival at the Red Planet is scheduled for the fall of 2027, nearly two years after launch.
Unlocking the Secrets of Martian Space Weather
Once in orbit around Mars, the two identical ESCAPADE spacecraft will work in tandem to study the planet's magnetosphere. This is the magnetic region around a planet that deflects charged particles from the Sun, known as solar wind.
By taking simultaneous measurements from different locations, scientists hope to understand how energy and plasma move through the Martian environment. This data is crucial for understanding space weather, a phenomenon that can affect astronauts and robotic missions throughout the solar system.
Studying magnetospheres allows scientists to better understand space weather, which can protect astronauts and satellites as they orbit Earth and explore the solar system.
The mission is part of NASA's SIMPLEx (Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration) program, which focuses on conducting targeted science investigations using smaller, more affordable spacecraft. It leverages commercial launch opportunities through the agency's VADR (Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) contracts, which are designed to foster a broader commercial launch market by accepting a higher level of risk for certain science payloads.
The entire launch was overseen from the New Glenn Launch and Mission Control center, located at Blue Origin's campus just outside the gates of NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida.