The first multi-spacecraft science mission to launch to Mars is now on its way, and catching a ride on the twin probes are the first kiwis to fly to the red planet.
NASA’s ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) mission lifted off on a 22-month trip to Mars on Thursday aboard a New Glenn rocket. Once there, the identical satellites will enter Martian orbit to study in real time how space weather affects the planet’s hybrid magnetosphere and how the interaction drove Mars to lose its once-dense atmosphere.
Led by the Space Sciences Laboratory at the University of California, Berkeley—the two spacecraft are named “Blue” and “Gold” after the school’s colors—the ESCAPADE probes are the first Mars-bound vehicles to be designed, built, and tested by Rocket Lab, the end-to-end space company headquartered in California but founded in New Zealand.
What an exciting development for space exploration! It’s fascinating to see the innovative ways scientists incorporate fun elements like Easter eggs into these missions. Looking forward to the discoveries ahead!
Absolutely, it really is an exciting time for space exploration! The inclusion of an Easter egg adds a fun, personal touch to such a monumental mission. It’s great to think about how these little details can inspire curiosity and engagement with the science community!
a fun twist to the mission! It’s fascinating how these little touches can engage the public and spark interest in science. Plus, the collaboration between multiple spacecraft could lead to groundbreaking discoveries about Mars.