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 mission will deploy twin spacecraft designed to study the interaction between solar wind and Mars’ atmosphere. By investigating how solar activity influences atmospheric escape, ESCAPADE aims to provide valuable insights into the Martian environment and its response to space weather. This will mark the second launch of Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket, further showcasing the collaboration between NASA and private aerospace companies in advancing our understanding of planetary science.
Media outlets interested in covering this groundbreaking launch are encouraged to apply for media accreditation, with the deadline set for October 13, 2023. The application process is straightforward for U.S. media and international representatives, and those who previously applied do not need to reapply. Accredited media will have the unique opportunity to engage in prelaunch activities and report on the launch from Space Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida. As the launch date approaches, NASA and Blue Origin will provide updates and details regarding the media event schedule, ensuring that the public remains informed about this significant mission.
The ESCAPADE mission is part of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration program, funded by the Heliophysics Division. Led by the University of California, Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, and designed by Rocket Lab, ESCAPADE represents a significant advancement in our quest to understand Mars. The mission’s insights could have far-reaching implications for our understanding of planetary atmospheres and their evolution, especially in relation to solar influences. For those eager to learn more about ESCAPADE, NASA has made additional resources available on their official website, including a dedicated blog for mission updates. This mission not only exemplifies the spirit of exploration but also highlights the importance of collaboration in advancing our scientific knowledge of the universe.
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
