NASA, Blue Origin Invite Media to Attend Mars Mission Launch
NASA and Blue Origin are gearing up for an exciting new chapter in space exploration with the upcoming launch of the ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission. This innovative project, featuring twin spacecraft designed to study the interaction between solar wind and Mars’ atmosphere, aims to deepen our understanding of how solar activity affects atmospheric escape on the Red Planet. Scheduled to be launched aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, this mission represents the second flight of the rocket and is poised to contribute significantly to our knowledge of Martian space weather dynamics.
Media outlets interested in covering this groundbreaking launch are invited to apply for credentials, with a deadline set for October 13, 2023. Those who have previously applied do not need to reapply, streamlining the process for returning journalists. Once a specific launch date is confirmed, NASA and Blue Origin will provide further details regarding media events and activities. The ESCAPADE mission is part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program, showcasing the agency’s commitment to advancing planetary science through innovative and cost-effective missions. Led by the University of California, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, the project also highlights collaboration with Rocket Lab, which designed the spacecraft, and is supported by NASA’s Heliophysics Division.
As preparations for the launch progress, NASA encourages the public and media to stay engaged by following updates on the ESCAPADE blog. This mission not only promises to enhance our understanding of Mars but also exemplifies the collaborative spirit of modern space exploration, combining efforts from multiple organizations to push the boundaries of what we know about our neighboring planet. For more information about ESCAPADE and its objectives, interested parties can visit the mission’s dedicated webpage.
A stylized illustration shows the twin ESCAPADE spacecraft entering Mars’ orbit.
Credits: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA
NASA and Blue Origin are reopening media accreditation for the launch of the agency’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission. The twin
ESCAPADE
spacecraft will study the solar wind’s interaction with Mars, providing insight into the planet’s real-time response to space weather and how solar activity drives atmospheric escape. This will be the second launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.
Media interested in covering ESCAPADE launch activities must apply for media credentials. Media who
previously applied
for media credentials for the ESCAPADE launch do not need to reapply.
U.S. media and U.S. citizens representing international media must apply by 11:59 p.m. EDT on Monday, Oct. 13. Media accreditation requests should be submitted online to:
https://media.ksc.nasa.gov
.
A copy of NASA’s
media accreditation policy
is available online. For questions about accreditation, please email:
ksc-media-accreditat@mail.nasa.gov
. For other mission questions, please contact NASA Kennedy’s newsroom: 321-867-2468.
Blue Origin is targeting later this fall for the launch of New Glenn’s second mission (NG-2) from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. Accredited media will have the opportunity to participate in prelaunch media activities and cover the launch. Once a specific launch date is targeted, NASA and Blue Origin will communicate additional details regarding the media event schedule.
NASA will post updates on launch preparations for the twin Martian orbiters on the
ESCAPADE blog
.
The ESCAPADE mission is part of the NASA Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program and is funded by the agency’s Heliophysics Division. The mission is led by the University of California, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, and Rocket Lab designed the spacecraft. The agency’s Launch Services Program, based at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, secured launch services under the VADR (Venture-class Acquisition of Dedicated and Rideshare) contract.
To learn more about ESCAPADE, visit:
-end-
Abbey Interrante
Headquarters, Washington
301-201-0124
abbey.a.interrante@nasa.gov
Leejay Lockhart
Kennedy Space Center, Florida
321-747-8310
leejay.lockhart@nasa.gov
