NASA's ESCAPADE mission, originally intended for launch in October 2024 aboard Blue Origin's inaugural New Glenn flight (NG-1), has experienced significant delays. The mission, focused on exploring the Martian atmosphere, was removed from NG-1 due to the rocket's unavailability within the mission's launch window. NG-1 ultimately launched successfully in January.
A recent NASA budget proposal hints at a new launch plan. The document indicates that ESCAPADE is now tentatively scheduled for launch on the second New Glenn flight, sometime between July and September 2025. This necessitates a more complex trajectory, delaying the mission's arrival at Mars to September 2027.
Shannon Curry, a member of the ESCAPADE science team, confirmed the mission's targeted launch window, stating at a May 1 meeting, “We’re in conversations with [NASA] Headquarters all the time to iron this one out.” While earlier statements pointed to a launch window spanning summer 2025 to spring 2026, NASA’s June 5th statement clarified their continued collaboration with Blue Origin, reiterating the targeted launch period. "The date in our technical supplement is the current no earlier date when Blue Origin will be ready to launch ESCAPADE on New Glenn," NASA stated.
Blue Origin's CEO, Dave Limp, previously suggested a late spring launch for New Glenn's second flight, mentioning the possibility of using a mass simulator as a payload if no customer payloads were secured. However, recent updates from Blue Origin remain scarce. A May filing with the Federal Communications Commission indicated a ground test campaign beginning July 1, effectively ruling out a launch prior to that date.