NASA announced that it has decided to remove the ESCAPADE smallsats from the first New Glenn launch scheduled for October. The reason for this decision was due to concerns about the rocket’s readiness for the mission.
The ESCAPADE mission involves two Mars-bound small satellites – the twin Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers. Pre-launch preparations for these spacecraft were initially suspended by NASA on September 6. The smallsats were set to launch on New Glenn’s inaugural flight from Cape Canaveral, Florida, between October 13-21.
The decision to remove ESCAPADE from the launch was made more than a month before the scheduled launch date. NASA needed to determine whether New Glenn would be ready to launch in October before filling the spacecraft with propellants. This decision was made to avoid potential financial, scheduling, and technical issues that could arise if the launch was delayed and the propellants needed to be removed from the spacecraft.
Blue Origin, the company responsible for the New Glenn rocket, had expected the launch to take place within the nine-day window in mid-October. However, there were still tests and assembly tasks that needed to be completed before the launch could proceed as planned. Launching a new rocket typically comes with its own set of challenges.
In light of the risks involved with removing the propellants if the launch were to be postponed, NASA decided to delay the fueling of the spacecraft to allow for extra time before the launch. Bradley Smith, director of NASA’s Launch Services Office, emphasized the importance of ensuring that all pre-launch work is completed with sufficient margin to meet the tight planetary launch window.
While ESCAPADE will not be launching on New Glenn’s maiden flight as originally planned, NASA has indicated that there is a possibility the mission may be rescheduled for early 2025. The exact timeline for when the spacecraft will reach Mars on this new trajectory has not been announced. This alternative launch date falls outside the traditional Mars launch window, which opens in the autumn and closes in two years.
Despite the delay, NASA remains committed to launching ESCAPADE, a low-cost mission aimed at exploring the Martian magnetosphere and solar wind. Nicky Fox, NASA’s assistant administrator for science, expressed excitement about the mission and looks forward to seeing it successfully launched.
Blue Origin also expressed support for NASA’s decision to target the ESCAPADE mission for a potential launch in the spring of 2025. The company stated that it looks forward to the flight and remains committed to the success of the mission.
In addition to the ESCAPADE mission, Blue Origin announced plans for New Glenn’s maiden flight to carry unnamed Blue Ring orbital transfer vehicle technology. This mission will also serve as the company’s first Space Force National Security Space Launch program certification launch. The second New Glenn mission is now scheduled for November, with the payload and timeline yet to be announced.
Despite the changes to the launch schedule, Blue Origin is expected to proceed with launch preparations without significant delays beyond necessary adjustments to the payload. The top stage of the rocket is set to undergo static-fire testing on the pad in early November, with potential rollout delays pushing the launch date to early November.
