Blue Origin ‘s New Glenn rocket (owned by Jeff Bezos) will launch a mission to study the magnetosphere of Mars .
NASA has awarded Blue Origin the launch of its Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers ( ESCAPADE ) mission to study the magnetosphere of Mars .
ESCAPADE will launch on Blue Origin ‘s New Glenn rocket from Space Launch Complex-36 at the Cape Canaveral Space Station in Florida. The launch is scheduled for the end of 2024.
We’re honored to have been selected by @NASA_LSP to launch the ESCAPADE science mission on #NewGlenn. With ESCAPADE, NASA will study Mars’ magnetosphere. Learn more: https://t.co/gckKVDLLkB pic.twitter.com/fQYHcO1uQ3
— Blue Origin (@blueorigin) February 9, 2023
mission objectives
This mission will study the magnetosphere of Mars – the magnetized area of space surrounding the planet – using two identical small spacecraft, which will provide simultaneous observations from two points. The spacecraft will help researchers better understand how the magnetosphere interacts with the solar wind and how energy and plasma move in and out of the magnetosphere, NASA reports .
Each satellite will carry three instruments: a magnetometer to measure the magnetic field, an electrostatic analyzer to measure ions and electrons, and a Langmuir probe to measure plasma density and the solar extreme ultraviolet flux.
ESCAPADE will take about 11 months to reach Mars after leaving Earth orbit, where both spacecraft will spend several months adjusting their orbits before they are in a position to best capture data about the magnetosphere.
Studying the different magnetospheres allows scientists to better understand space weather, which can protect astronauts and satellites alike as they orbit Earth. (Europe Press)