View source for Engineering:ESCAPADE

{{infobox spaceflight
| name               = ESCAPADE
| image              = EscaPADE.png
| image_caption      = 
| mission_type       = [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] orbiter
| website            = {{URL|https://escapade.ssl.berkeley.edu/}}
| mission_duration   = 2.5 years (planned)<ref name="eoportal1" />
| spacecraft         = ''Blue'' and ''Gold''
| spacecraft_bus     = [[Engineering:Rocket Lab Photon|Photon]]
| manufacturer       = [[Company:Rocket Lab|Rocket Lab]]
| launch_mass        = Total: {{cvt|1070|kg|lb}}<br />Individual: {{cvt|535|kg|lb}}
| dimensions         = {{cvt|60|xx|70|xx|90|cm}}<ref name="nssdc1" />
| power              = 260 watts<ref name="eoportal1" />
| launch_date        = {{Abbr|NET|no earlier than}} November 9, 2025
| launch_rocket      = [[Astronomy:New Glenn|New Glenn]]
| launch_site        = Cape Canaveral, LC-36
| launch_contractor  = [[Company:Blue Origin|Blue Origin]]
| orbit_reference    = [[Astronomy:Areocentric orbit|Areocentric]]
| orbit_periapsis    = {{cvt|160|km|mi}}<ref name="eoportal1" />
| orbit_apoapsis     = {{cvt|7000|–|10000|km|mi}}<ref name="eoportal1" />
| orbit_inclination  = 60°
| apsis              = areion
| trans_bandwidth    = [[Physics:X band|X band]]<ref name="nssdc1" />
| interplanetary     = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP
  | type             = orbiter
  | object           = [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]]
  | arrival_date     = 2026 (planned)
 }}
| instruments_list   = {{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments
  |acronym1  = EMAG | name1  = ESCAPADE Magnetometer
  |acronym2  = EESA | name2  = ESCAPADE Electrostatic Analyzer
  |acronym3  = ELP  | name3  = ESCAPADE Langmuir Probe
 }}
| insignia           = EscaPADE logo.png
| insignia_caption   = Mission logo
| programme          = [[Astronomy:Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration|SIMPLEx]] program
| previous_mission   = [[Astronomy:Lunar Trailblazer|Lunar Trailblazer]]
}}

'''Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers''' ('''ESCAPADE''') is a planned spacecraft mission to [[Astronomy:Mars|Mars]] consisting of two spacecraft known as ''Blue'' and ''Gold''.{{r|berkeley1|nssdc1}} The mission is led by [[Organization:Space Sciences Laboratory|UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Laboratory]] with Dr. Robert Lillis as Principal Investigator.  Once expected to launch in October 2024, it is part of [[Organization:NASA|NASA]]'s [[Astronomy:Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration|SIMPLEx]] program.<ref name="sn-20230413" /><ref name="sn-20240425"/> In August 2024 the spacecraft arrived at the launch site.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=August 19, 2024 |title=Rocket Lab-built Mars smallsats arrive at launch site |url=https://spacenews.com/rocket-lab-built-mars-smallsats-arrive-at-launch-site/ |access-date=September 6, 2024 |work=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}</ref> However, NASA postponed the launch due to schedule and technical issues involved with the mission's [[Astronomy:New Glenn|New Glenn]] launch vehicle, which was set to debut with the launch of these spacecraft.<ref name="nasa2024062024">{{Cite tweet |number=1827079568470995106 |user=blueorigin |title=#NewGlenn's inaugural mission aims to send @NASA's ESCAPADE to Mars, with a launch date no earlier than October 13.}}</ref> Launch on the New Glenn is now planned for no earlier than November 9, 2025.<ref name="Berger 2025-10-08">{{Cite news |last=Berger |first=Eric |date=October 8, 2025 |title=Actually, we are going to tell you the odds of recovering New Glenn’s second launch |url=https://arstechnica.com/space/2025/10/the-second-new-glenn-rolls-to-the-launch-pad-and-they-expect-to-recover-this-one/ |access-date=October 8, 2025 |work=[[Ars Technica]] |language=en}}</ref>

== Mission ==
The mission will demonstrate low-cost planetary space exploration. The twin spacecraft will study Mars' [[Astronomy:Magnetosphere|magnetosphere]] and how [[Astronomy:Solar wind|solar wind]] contributed to the loss of most of the planet's [[Astronomy:Atmosphere of Mars|atmosphere]] over solar system history.

== History ==
The [[Astronomy:Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration|Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration]] ("SIMPLEx") program<ref name="trials2023">{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff  |date=February 20, 2023 |title=Trials and tribulations of planetary smallsats |url=https://www.thespacereview.com/article/4535/1 |access-date=November 23, 2023 |work=The Space Review}}</ref> was intended as a program to select small, low-cost space missions to fly as secondary payloads on other NASA missions. As a ride-along mission on another launch, not a main mission, they were intended to have low cost and tolerate a higher level of risk than other NASA missions.

ESCAPADE was originally selected from a competition to be a low-cost ride-along "mission of opportunity" to hitch a ride to Mars with the [[Engineering:Psyche (spacecraft)|Psyche spacecraft]], and drop off as the spacecraft made a fly-by of Mars. Thus, it had an anticipated launch cost of nearly nothing. However, the launch of the Psyche mission was awarded to Falcon Heavy, meaning that Psyche will make a higher-energy 
flyby of Mars, and ESCAPADE mission plans could not be updated in time for the launch.<ref name="bumped_from_FH">{{Cite news|last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=September 18, 2020|title=Mars smallsat mission bumped from launch|url=https://spacenews.com/mars-smallsat-mission-bumped-from-launch/ |access-date=December 10, 2024 |work=SpaceNews}}</ref> Rather than cancel the mission, NASA announced that it would go on a different launch vehicle, and requested bids from industry for the launch.

In February 2023, [[Company:Blue Origin|Blue Origin]] won the contract to launch the mission on the first flight of the [[Astronomy:New Glenn|New Glenn]] launch vehicle in October 2024, at a cost of ~$20 million.<ref name="sn-20240425">{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=April 25, 2024 |title=NASA planning September launch of Mars smallsat mission on first New Glenn |url=https://spacenews.com/nasa-planning-september-launch-of-mars-smallsat-mission-on-first-new-glenn/ |access-date=April 26, 2024 |work=SpaceNews}}</ref>

On September 6, 2024, the launch was delayed by NASA to spring 2025 at the earliest.  NASA said, "The agency’s decision to stand down was based on a review of launch preparations and discussions with Blue Origin, the Federal Aviation Administration, and Space Launch Delta 45 Range Safety Organization, as well as NASA’s Launch Services Program and Science Mission Directorate.  The decision was made to avoid significant cost, schedule, and technical challenges associated with potentially removing fuel from the spacecraft in the event of a launch delay, which could be caused by a number of factors."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frazier |first=Sarah |date=September 6, 2024 |title=NASA Stands Down from October Launch for ESCAPADE to Mars  |url=https://blogs.nasa.gov/escapade/2024/09/06/nasa-stands-down-from-october-launch-for-escapade-to-mars/ |access-date=September 6, 2024 |website=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]] |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Spacecraft ==
[[File:ESCAPADE Unboxed at Astrotech (KSC-20240822-PH-KLS01 0016).jpg|thumb|Both ESCAPADE spacecraft unboxed at Astrotech]]

Each identical ESCAPADE spacecraft has a dry mass of ~{{cvt|200|kg}}, with a wet mass of <{{cvt|550|kg}}. The spacecraft bus is originally adapted from the Rocket Lab [[Engineering:Rocket Lab Photon|Photon]] upper stage and is approximately {{cvt|60|xx|70|xx|90|cm}}. The spacecraft is powered by two {{cvt|480|xx|70|cm}} [[Physics:Solar panels on spacecraft|solar array]] wings. Chemical propulsion is provided by thrusters from [[Company:Arianespace|Arianespace]].<ref>{{Cite journal |date=September 18, 2022 |title=ESCAPADE: A Low-Cost Formation at Mars |url=https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/advspace.publicshare/Papers-Presentations/2022/Parker_ESCAPADE-A-Low-Cost-Formation-at-Mars.pdf |journal=International Astronautical Congress |access-date=October 21, 2023}}</ref> [[Engineering:Reaction wheel|Reaction wheel]]s, [[Engineering:Inertial measurement unit|inertial measurement unit]]s, and [[Astronomy:Star tracker|star tracker]]s are used to maintain orientation, with [[Engineering:Cold gas thruster|cold gas thruster]]s to desaturate the wheels. Communications are in [[Astronomy:X-band|X-band]] via a {{cvt|60|cm}} diameter dish antenna. A {{cvt|200|cm}} boom extends above the spacecraft, hosting the EMAG and ELP mNLP sensors.<ref name="nssdc1" />

The original mission design, developed by Advanced Space LLC,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://advancedspace.com/escapade/ | title = ESCAPADE - Advanced Space}}</ref> called for ESCAPADE to be injected directly into an interplanetary trajectory.<ref name="nssdc1" />  After several delays and revisions, the current design calls for ESCAPADE to be launched to a staging orbit near the Earth-Sun L<sub>2</sub> [[Astronomy:Lagrange point|Lagrange point]] in late 2025.  It will wait there, studying space weather, until late 2026 when the Mars window open again.  Then ESCAPADE will change course to dive near the Earth to execute its escape burns.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://universemagazine.com/en/blue-origin-to-launch-escapade-mission-to-mars/ |title=Blue Origin to launch EscaPADE mission to Mars}}</ref>

ESCAPADE will execute one major and several minor propulsive maneuvers during its 11-month cruise to Mars.  After reaching Mars, the twin probes will enter a highly elliptical orbit. Over the following six months, the orbit will be lowered and circularized until it reaches the nominal science orbit.<ref>{{cite web |title=NASA’s ESCAPADE Mission – Twin Martian Orbiters – Moves Toward Launch |url=https://science.nasa.gov/blogs/escapade/2021/08/20/nasas-escapade-mission-twin-martian-orbiters-moves-toward-launch/ |first=Miles |last=Hatfield |website=nasa.gov |date=August 20, 2021| access-date=October 14, 2025}}</ref>

== Instruments and science goals ==

The science goals of ESCAPADE are to:<ref name="nssdc1" />
* understand the processes controlling the structure of Mars' hybrid magnetosphere and how it guides ion flows
* understand how energy and momentum are transported from the solar wind through Mars' magnetosphere
* understand the processes controlling the flow of energy and matter into and out of the collisional atmosphere

There are three science experiments onboard each identical spacecraft: EMAG, EESA, and ELP. EMAG, which was developed by the NASA Goddard Spaceflight Center, is a [[Physics:Magnetometer|magnetometer]] that will measure DC [[Physics:Magnetic field|magnetic field]]s up to 1000&nbsp;nT, mounted at the end of the boom to reduce magnetic noise from the spacecraft. EESA is an [[Physics:Electrostatic analyzer|electrostatic analyzer]] designed to measure the energies, fluxes, and masses of suprathermal ions from 2 [[Electronvolt|eV]] to 20 keV and energies and fluxes of suprathermal electrons from 3 eV to 10 keV. It is mounted on the upper deck of the spacecraft bus, with a 240° x 120° field of view for electrons and 247.5° x 90° field of view for ions. ELP, developed by the Space and Atmospheric Instrumentation Lab at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, is a Langmuir probe consisting of three separate sensors: the multi-needle [[Physics:Langmuir probe|Langmuir probe]] (mNLP) consists of 4 thin needles mounted in two pairs ~3/4 way up the boom and measures thermal electron density; the two planar ion probes (PIPs) are mounted on the instrument deck and measure thermal ion density, and the floating potential probe (FPP) is also mounted on the spacecraft deck and measures changes in relative spacecraft electrostatic potential.

Once the nominal science orbit is achieved, approximately six months after arriving at Mars, Science Campaign A involves both spacecraft flying in the same orbit at varying distances from one another, ~{{cvt|170|xx|8400|km}} (5.66 hours) with an [[Astronomy:Orbital inclination|inclination]] of 65 degrees. This will last approximately six months, at which time Blue will lower its apoapsis to {{cvt|7000|km}} and Gold will raise its apoapsis to {{cvt|10000|km}}. With different orbital periods (4.9 and 6.6 hours), the orbits will precess (due to [[Physics:Gravity of Mars|Mars' nonuniform gravity field]]) at different rates and thus separate, allowing simultaneous measurements of distant parts of the Mars magnetosphere. This campaign will operate for approximately five months until the end of the nominal science mission less than three years after launch.<ref name="nssdc1" />

== See also ==
*[[Astronomy:List of missions to Mars|List of missions to Mars]]
*Venus Life Finder

== References ==
{{reflist|refs=

<ref name="berkeley1">{{Cite web |last=Sanders |first=Robert  |date=August 23, 2021 |title='Blue' and 'Gold' satellites headed to Mars in 2024 |url=https://news.berkeley.edu/2021/08/23/blue-and-gold-satellites-headed-to-mars-in-2024/ |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=Berkeley News}}</ref>

<ref name="eoportal1">{{Cite web |date=April 26, 2024 |title=ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) |url=https://www.eoportal.org/satellite-missions/escapade#mission-overview |access-date=August 24, 2024 |website=eoPortal.org}}</ref>

<ref name="nssdc1">{{Cite web |title=ESCAPADE |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=ESCAPADE |access-date=February 11, 2023 |website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |publisher=[[Organization:NASA|NASA]]}} {{PD-notice}}</ref>

<ref name="sn-20230413">{{Cite news |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=April 13, 2023 |title=ESCAPADE confident in planned 2024 New Glenn launch |url=https://spacenews.com/escapade-confident-in-planned-2024-new-glenn-launch/ |access-date=April 14, 2023 |work=SpaceNews.com}}</ref>

}}

== Further reading ==
{{Commons}}
* [https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2022/pdf/1135.pdf ESCAPADE: A TWIN-SPACECRAFT SIMPLEX MISSION TO UNVEIL MARS’ UNIQUE HYBRID MAGNETOSPHERE]
* [https://s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/advspace.publicshare/Papers-Presentations/2022/Parker_ESCAPADE-A-Low-Cost-Formation-at-Mars.pdf ESCAPADE: A Low-Cost Formation at Mars]

{{Mars spacecraft}}
{{Mars}}

[[Category:NASA space probes]]
[[Category:Missions to Mars]]

{{Sourceattribution|ESCAPADE}}