All timeline stories.
NASA decided not to fuel the two ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft. 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 Read more…
On Sunday, August 18, 2024 at around 3 AM, “Betty” Blue and “Goldilocks” Gold arrive at the Astrotech Space Operations processing facility just outside Kennedy Space Center, following a three-day journey across the country from California.
More great work from our Rocket Lab partners and both spacecraft are finished environmental testing!
Blue, the spacecraft on the left, has completed a successful thermal vacuum test campaign. Meanwhile Gold, the spacecraft on the right, has completed pre-environments testing and is now into vibration testing. Not long to go until these beautiful machines are shipped out to the Cape ready for their journey to Read more…
Blue spacecraft completed shock & vibe testing at Rocket Lab USA, Long Beach. Ready for TVAC!
The full Science & Project teams met at UC Berkeley on January 29 to provide updates and familiarize all parts of the project with each other as we move into our launch year!!
Our partners at Rocket Lab USA are working hard to integrate the propulsion systems we need to be captured by Mars’s gravity and synchronize our orbits!
We built up a full copy of the spacecraft to make sure our design can survive the punishing environment of launch into space!
With the two spacecraft (mostly) assembled, it’s time to carefully review the configuration of the system & ensure that all unit-level, subsystem, and system testing has been completed. Here is where we make sure everything is ready to put the spacecraft through their environmental tests, i.e. the conditions they will Read more…