Rocket Lab Prepares Twin Satellites for NASA Mars Mission Launch

Rocket Lab Prepares Twin Satellites for NASA Mars Mission Launch

by Clarence Oxford

Los Angeles CA (SPX) Aug 17, 2024

Rocket Lab USA, Inc. (Nasdaq: RKLB) has successfully packed and shipped two spacecraft bound for Mars to Cape Canaveral, FL, where they will undergo final preparations for launch. These twin spacecraft, part of the Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission, were developed by Rocket Lab for the University of California Berkeley’s Space Science Laboratory and NASA.

Known as Blue and Gold, the spacecraft recently completed their assembly, integration, and testing phases at Rocket Lab’s Spacecraft Production Complex in Long Beach, California. Following these milestones, the team completed final closeout procedures, including the installation of solar arrays and multi-layer insulation blankets, before shipping the spacecraft to Florida.

Upon reaching NASA’s Kennedy Space Center (KSC) Launch Complex, Rocket Lab’s team will transfer the spacecraft to a cleanroom for detailed inspections and post-transport tests. After verifying their condition, the spacecraft will be prepared for fueling ahead of their launch aboard Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket.

“We’ve already been to the Moon for NASA, so we’re excited to build on that and send Rocket Lab technology deeper into the solar system, this time to the Red Planet,” said Rocket Lab founder and CEO Sir Peter Beck.

“Our Space Systems team has built a beautiful and highly capable pair of spacecraft to help NASA and the University of California Berkeley further humanity’s understanding of Mars. We couldn’t be prouder to be an ESCAPADE mission partner enabling science and exploration missions beyond our planet. After a meticulous but speedy build and test phase, we’re excited to have Blue and Gold on their way to the Cape and a step closer to Mars.”

“The successful delivery of the spacecraft to Kennedy Space Center marks a significant milestone and the culmination of over three years of dedicated teamwork from individuals across the project, especially our partners at Rocket Lab,” said Rob Lillis, ESCAPADE Principal Investigator and Associate Director for Planetary Science at the UC Berkeley Space Sciences Laboratory.

“Interplanetary spacecraft must be much more resilient than earth satellites, and developing not one, but two of these probes almost from scratch was no small feat. Time and again, Rocket Lab’s agility and tireless efforts have impressed me, exemplified by their frequent ‘hero mode’ (a saying we have on the project) to troubleshoot and keep the project on course. We couldn’t ask for better partners in this endeavor. Now, we’re thrilled to embark on this first step of our journey to Mars!”

Once in space, the ESCAPADE mission will gather data on plasma and magnetic fields surrounding Mars. This information will help scientists understand how processes strip atoms from the planet’s magnetosphere and upper atmosphere, offering essential insights into Mars’ climate history.