ESCAPADE is a twin-spacecraft Class D mission dedicated to studying the transfer of solar wind energy and momentum through Mars’ unique hybrid magnetosphere and how it drives ion and sputtering escape. ESCAPADE also supports NASA’s exploration goals by characterizing both space weather and ionospheric variability (which disrupts communication and navigation signals) at Mars. We’re looking forward to launch from Cape Canaveral on the New Glenn launch vehicle in Fall 2025!
ESCAPADE breaks the paradigm of multi-hundred million and billion dollar planetary mission, building on the MAVEN Mars orbiter’s legacy for a fraction of the cost (<$80 million).
ESCAPADE is led by the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory, which is responsible for mission management, systems engineering, science leadership, navigation, operations, the electron & ion electrostatic analyzers, and science data processing and archiving.
Key partners are Rocket Lab USA (spacecraft), NASA Goddard Space Flight Center (magnetometers), Embry Riddle Aeronautical University (Langmuir probes), Advanced Space LLC (mission design), and Blue Origin (launch).