Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-23-2024 04:50 PM
This thread is intended for comments and questions about NASA's Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, or ESCAPADE, and the updates published under this topic.
The ESCAPADE mission comprises twin Rocket Lab Photon spacecraft that will orbit around Mars to understand the structure, composition, variability, and dynamics of the planet's unique hybrid magnetosphere. The mission will launch on the first flight of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 08-23-2024 04:51 PM
NASA mission trailer
Over billions of years, a relentless flow of particles from the Sun — the solar wind — has slowly stripped away the Martian atmosphere, causing surface water to evaporate. But how exactly did this happen? NASA's new ESCAPADE mission aims to find out.
Launching no earlier than Oct. 13, 2024, the Escape and Plasma Acceleration Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission will be studying Mars' real-time response to the solar wind, helping us better understand Mars' climate history.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 07-18-2025 08:51 AM
From Blue Origin:
New Glenn’s second mission, NG-2, will send NASA’s ESCAPADE to Mars. This launch will support ESCAPADE’s science objectives as the twin spacecraft progress on their journey to the Red Planet.
Also onboard is a technology demonstration from Viasat in support of NASA Space Operations' Communications Services Project.
From Dave Limp, Blue Origin CEO:
This will be an exciting mission for New Glenn and Mars exploration. ESCAPADE is not only New Glenn’s first interplanetary mission, it’s also the first multi-spacecraft orbital science mission to study the Martian magnetosphere. And, we hope to land and recover our booster for the first time. Mars, here we come. Thank you to NASA for riding with us to space.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-05-2025 05:07 PM
A launch on Sunday (Nov. 9) would be at 2:45 p.m. EST (1945 GMT). The window closes at 5:11 p.m. EST. Blue Origin update:
We're targeting New Glenn's second launch no earlier than Sunday, November 9, from LC-36.
NG-2 will send NASA's ESCAPADE twin spacecraft on their journey to Mars and carry a Viasat technology demonstration for NASA Space Ops' Communications Services Project.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-09-2025 07:45 AM
Photos via David Gimp, Blue Origin's CEO:
NG-2 is vertical at LC-36. One step closer to Mars!
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-09-2025 03:17 PM
Blue Origin update:
Today's [Nov. 9] NG-2 launch is scrubbed due to weather, specifically the cumulus cloud rule. We’re reviewing opportunities for our next launch attempt based on forecasted weather.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3899 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 11-09-2025 04:21 PM
The NG-2 launch has been scrubbed, apparently due to weather, but there has also been an issue arising from a cruise liner encroaching into the danger-zone. I don't know if the presence of the cruise liner had a material impact on the scrub, but if it did I hope Jeff Bezos reaches down into his sofa to find enough loose change to sue the cruise company. If nothing else it might deter anyone in future "trying to get a better view."
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-09-2025 05:25 PM
It sounded from the commentary that the cruise ship may not have been trying to watch the launch but rather depart from Port Canaveral for its destination. It was expected to have cleared the port and danger area by the time the launch window opened but was delayed.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-10-2025 12:31 AM
Blue Origin update:
Our next launch attempt is no earlier than Wednesday, November 12, due to forecasted weather and sea state conditions. We worked with the FAA and range to select a launch window from 2:50 PM – 4:17 PM EST / 19:50 – 21:17 UTC.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-12-2025 09:13 AM
Blue Origin update
New Glenn is ready to launch. However, due to highly elevated solar activity and its potential effects on the ESCAPADE spacecraft, NASA is postponing launch until space weather conditions improve.
We are currently assessing opportunities to establish our next launch window based on forecasted space weather and range availability.
Blackarrow Member
Posts: 3899 From: Belfast, United Kingdom Registered: Feb 2002
posted 11-12-2025 05:17 PM
Frustrating, but I understand.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-12-2025 09:58 PM
Blue Origin update:
We are scheduled to launch Thursday, November 13, with a launch window from 2:57 p.m. to 4:25 p.m. EST / 19:57 to 21:25 UTC.
The live webcast starts at T-20 minutes.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-13-2025 01:28 PM
Blue Origin video
New Glenn's second mission, NG-2, is scheduled to launch Thursday, November 13, from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station. This mission will deliver NASA's ESCAPADE twin spacecraft to Mars.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-13-2025 01:59 PM
Terminal count abort — hold called at T-20 seconds. The team is investigating the reason for the hold and how they can resume with the launch attempt.
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-13-2025 02:40 PM
Countdown resumed with a new T-0 of 3:55 p.m. EST (20:55 UTC).
Robert Pearlman Editor
Posts: 55505 From: Houston, TX Registered: Nov 1999
posted 11-13-2025 03:08 PM
Successful launch of NASA's Mars ESCAPADE mission! Here, "Blue" (at top) and "Gold," are seen just before deploying into their initial orbit around Earth:
posted 08-23-2024 04:50 PM
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