Rocket Lab, a global leader in dedicated launch and space systems, today
announced it will begin final mission design and commence manufacturing two
interplanetary Photon spacecraft for a science mission to Mars, delivering
Decadal-class science at a fraction of the cost of typical planetary
missions.
The Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE)
mission will orbit two Rocket Lab-built Photon spacecraft around Mars to
understand the structure, composition, variability, and dynamics of Mars’
unique hybrid magnetosphere. The mission will also support crewed
exploration programs like Artemis through improved solar storm prediction.
ESCAPADE is the latest of only three missions proceeding under the
current round of NASA’s Small Innovative Missions for Planetary Exploration
(SIMPLEX) program to conduct compelling planetary space science with small
satellites and provide more opportunities for flight experience to the
science community. The ESCAPADE mission, led by principal investigator
Robert Lillis at the University of California, Berkeley, is the latest
SIMPLEX mission to pass Key Decision Point-C (KDP-C), confirming it for
implementation in preparation for launch to Mars in 2024. The ESCAPADE
mission is managed by the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s Heliophysics
Division and will be the first Heliophysics mission to visit another planet.
Following deployment from a NASA-provided commercial launch vehicle, the
pair of Photons will conduct an 11-month interplanetary cruise before
inserting themselves into elliptical orbits around Mars to begin the science
phase. Both Photons incorporate satellite subsystems developed and
manufactured by Rocket Lab, including star trackers, reaction wheels,
ranging transceivers for deep space navigation, and in-space propulsion
systems. By leveraging vertically-integrated spacecraft manufacturing, the
ESCAPADE mission will be delivered at a fraction of the cost of traditional
planetary missions. This supports U.S. national strategy for Decadal-class
science by increasing the pace of scientific discovery and enabling more
sustainable crewed exploration by improving our understanding of the space
environment.
Rocket Lab’s founder and CEO, Peter Beck, says “ESCAPADE is an innovative
mission that demonstrates that advanced interplanetary science is now within
reach for a fraction of traditional costs, and we’re proud to make it
possible with Photon,” he said. “Passing the Key Decision Point is a
critical milestone in ESCAPADE’s development and is testament to the
world-class science and engineering work of the UC Berkeley and Rocket Lab
teams. We are delighted to receive the green light from NASA to proceed to
flight.”
ESCAPADE is one of several missions beyond Earth orbit currently under
development by Rocket Lab using the Photon spacecraft, including the
CAPSTONE mission to the Moon in support of NASA’s Artemis program and Rocket
Lab’s own privately-funded science mission to Venus.
Source: Link
Tags:
Space & Astrophysics