NASA is set to launch a new science mission to explore the mysteries of Mars’ atmosphere. The mission, called Escapade (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers), will be carried out by Rocket Lab, a private company founded in New Zealand in 2006. This marks a unique partnership between NASA and a non-billionaire-led space company.
The Escapade spacecraft consists of two probes, Blue and Gold, each about the size of a stacked washer and dryer. They were recently shipped to Cape Canaveral, Florida, where they will be integrated onto a competitor’s rocket, Blue Origin’s New Glenn. The mission aims to study how solar radiation affects Mars’ atmosphere and has implications for future human exploration of the planet.
Rocket Lab built the twin probes in just 3.5 years at a cost of $57 million, a significant bargain compared to NASA’s typical spend on complex missions beyond Earth’s orbit. This achievement demonstrates Rocket Lab’s engineering prowess and ability to deliver quickly at a competitive price.
The mission has practical implications for future human exploration of Mars. Astronauts will need navigation and communication systems that can pass signals through the planet’s upper atmosphere. The more accurate scientists’ models are of Mars’ ionosphere, the better those technologies will work.
The Escapade spacecraft will travel to Mars over 11 months before reaching the planet in April 2026. Both probes will adjust their orbits over several months before beginning their primary science mission.
Source: https://mashable.com/article/nasa-mars-aurora-escapade-rocket-lab