Mars Mission Postponed: NASA Postpones ESCAPADE Launch on Blue Origin’s New Glenn

NASA’s highly anticipated ESCAPADE mission, designed to explore Mars’ atmospheric dynamics, has hit a temporary roadblock. Originally set to launch in October 2024 aboard Blue Origin’s massive New Glenn rocket, the mission is now postponed until spring 2025. The decision stems from NASA’s desire to avoid potential cost overruns and technical challenges that could arise if the launch were to be delayed within the original timeframe.

The ESCAPADE Mission: A Closer Look

ESCAPADE, short for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, consists of two identical probes, Blue and Gold. These spacecraft are tasked with studying how Mars’ atmosphere interacts with solar wind and space weather, contributing to a better understanding of how to protect future missions to the Red Planet.

The Reasons Behind the Delay

NASA’s decision followed discussions with key partners, including Blue Origin and regulatory bodies like the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). One of the primary concerns was the potential need to remove and replace fuel from the spacecraft, should a launch delay occur. This step would have led to significant cost and schedule challenges, prompting NASA to push the launch to 2025.

Mars missions are typically aligned with specific windows that occur every 26 months, when Earth and Mars are in optimal positions for efficient space travel. However, the early 2025 timeline is achievable due to adjustments in the mission’s design and flexibility.

Blue Origin’s Plans for New Glenn

Despite this delay, Blue Origin is moving forward with New Glenn. The company will now use New Glenn’s inaugural flight, pushed to November 2024, to carry technology for its Blue Ring orbital platform instead of the ESCAPADE mission. It will be its first National Security Space Launch certification flight.

The company has agreed to accelerate New Glenn’s second flight to align with the new 2025 launch window for ESCAPADE.