NASA's ESCAPADE Probes Complete Powered Earth Flybys
The twin spacecraft performed Earth-flyby maneuvers on November 7 and 9, 2026, as they head toward Mars.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: James Rattray/Rocket Lab USA
NASA’s two ESCAPADE spacecraft performed powered maneuvers near Earth on November 7 and 9, 2026, setting up their onward journey toward Mars. The mission will study the planet and how it interacts with the solar wind.
Key details
- ESCAPADE stands for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers.
- Blue Origin’s New Glenn launched the spacecraft in November 2025.
- During their cruise, the probes observed Earth’s distant magnetotail, including simultaneous measurements from about 1.19 million miles (1.91 million kilometers) away.
- The mission plan calls for several course corrections before a planned Mars arrival in September 2027.
ESCAPADE’s twin spacecraft made simultaneous observations of Earth’s magnetotail about 1.19 million miles away.
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