Blue Origin, the space company founded by Jeff Bezos, recently attempted to launch NASA’s ESCAPADE mission to Mars using its New Glenn rocket. The mission, which aims to investigate why Mars began to lose its atmosphere billions of years ago, involves twin spacecraft that will observe two Mars locations simultaneously. This unique approach will allow scientists to measure how Mars responds to space weather in real-time and understand changes in the Martian magnetosphere.

The mission, named EscaPADE, is designed to follow an orbital trajectory that has never been attempted before. Instead of heading directly towards Mars, the spacecraft will first aim for Lagrange Point 2 (L2), a cosmic balance point about 1.5 million kilometers from Earth. Lagrange points are special locations where the gravitational forces of the sun and Earth are in perfect balance, allowing spacecraft to linger without being pulled away. The spacecraft will spend a year in an orbital backroad around L2 before heading towards Mars during the next transfer window.

EscaPADE is part of NASA’s SIMPLEx program, which focuses on high-value planetary science missions at a lower cost. The mission’s cost was less than $100 million, significantly lower than the price tags of other NASA satellites orbiting Mars. This cost-effective approach aligns with NASA’s goal of conducting innovative missions within budget constraints.

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, known for its reusability, was intended to launch the ESCAPADE mission. However, adverse weather conditions forced the company to postpone the launch, highlighting the challenges of space exploration. The company aims to reschedule the launch for a later date to ensure a successful mission to Mars.

The public reaction to Blue Origin’s attempt to launch the EscaPADE mission has been mixed, with excitement about the scientific discoveries it could lead to, tempered by the disappointment of the postponement. The mission’s success could provide valuable insights into Mars’ atmospheric evolution and space weather interactions, paving the way for future planetary science missions.

Overall, Blue Origin’s ambitious mission to Mars demonstrates the growing interest in space exploration and the importance of innovative approaches to scientific research. By leveraging advanced technology and collaborative efforts, scientists and engineers are pushing the boundaries of our understanding of the universe.

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References:
– https://www.nytimes.com/2025/11/09/science/blue-origin-new-glenn-launch.html
– https://www.nextbigfuture.com/2025/11/blue-origin-2nd-new-glenn-launch-in-35-minutes.html
– https://science.slashdot.org/story/25/11/09/1845207/blue-origin-livestreams-attempt-to-launch-unique-escapade-mission-to-mars?utm_source=rss1.0mainlinkanon&utm_medium=feed
– https://www.theverge.com/news/817466/blue-origin-new-glenn-second-launch-scrubbed

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