Latest news with #ESCAPADE
Digital Trends
21-07-2025
- Science
- Digital Trends
New Glenn rocket all set for grand mission on only its second launch
Blue Origin has officially announced that its next-generation New Glenn rocket will launch NASA's ESCAPADE Mars mission in a flight targeted for no earlier than mid-August 2025. Lifting off from Cape Canaveral in Florida, NASA's ESCAPADE mission to the red planet will achieve several notable milestones, including becoming the first multi-spacecraft orbital science mission sent to Mars. Two spacecraft, called Blue and Gold, will orbit the distant planet while conducting coordinated, simultaneous observations of Mars's magnetic field as it interacts with the solar wind and drives the escape of elements from Mars' very thin atmosphere into space. Recommended Videos It'll also be the first interplanetary mission for the New Glenn rocket, whose inaugural flight earlier this year involved the deployment of a prototype spacecraft to medium-Earth orbit. Additionally, we'll see Blue Origin attempt to land New Glenn's first-stage booster for the first time, similar to how SpaceX brings home its workhorse Falcon 9 rocket minutes after deploying satellites to space or sending astronauts to orbit. A successful landing would put the New Glenn on a path to first-stage reusability, enabling it to cut costs and increase launch frequency with its heavy-lift rocket. New Glenn's inaugural flight took place in January 2025 and while the rocket successfully reached orbit and deployed its payload, the first-stage booster was lost during descent and so had no chance of attempting a propulsive landing. Blue Origin's 98-meter-tall rocket is powered by seven BE-4 engines that together create almost 4 million pounds of thrust as the vehicle leaves the launchpad, making it around 2.5 times more powerful than the Falcon 9. Adding extra buzz to the mission is the fact that it's NASA's first voyage to Mars since the 2020 launch of the Perseverance rover, which arrived at the planet in spectacular fashion early the following year. Dave Limp, Blue Origin CEO, said in a post on X that the upcoming endeavor will be 'an exciting mission for New Glenn and Mars exploration,' and thanked NASA for 'riding with us to space.'
Time of India
02-07-2025
- Science
- Time of India
Top 10 space missions to watch in 2025 and beyond: Exploring the Moon, Mars, and distant worlds
Space exploration is entering an exciting new era in 2025, with a remarkable lineup of missions poised to deepen our understanding of the Moon , Mars , and beyond. These missions, led by NASA , ISRO , ESA, JAXA , and private companies, will not only advance scientific knowledge but also pave the way for future human exploration and technological innovation. From crewed lunar orbits to robotic explorers on distant moons, here are the top 10 space missions to watch in the coming years. From lunar landers to interplanetary explorers: The most ambitious space missions ahead 1. Intuitive Machines IM-3 (PRISM) Launch Date: 2026 by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Destination: Moon Objective: Deliver scientific payloads and rovers to study lunar geology and test technologies for future Artemis missions. Overview: The IM-3 mission is a critical part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, designed to help establish a sustainable human presence on the Moon. It will carry advanced instruments to analyze the lunar surface, including rovers that can traverse and study the terrain. Beyond science, IM-3 will test new landing technologies and autonomous systems that will be essential for future crewed Artemis missions. Success here will build confidence in commercial partnerships supporting lunar exploration. 2. ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) Launch Date: December 2025 Destination: Mars Orbit Objective: Study Mars' plasma environment and magnetic fields to understand atmospheric loss. Overview: ESCAPADE consists of two small satellites, 'Blue' and 'Gold,' orbiting Mars at different altitudes to provide a detailed picture of how solar wind strips away the Martian atmosphere. This process is key to understanding why Mars lost much of its atmosphere and surface water, transforming from a potentially habitable planet to the cold desert we see today. The mission's data will improve models of planetary atmospheres and help assess Mars' past habitability. 3. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Launch Date: 2025 Destination: Earth Orbit Objective: Monitor Earth's surface changes with high precision to study natural disasters and environmental shifts. Overview: NISAR is a groundbreaking collaboration between NASA and ISRO, equipped with dual-frequency radar that can penetrate clouds and darkness to provide detailed maps of Earth's surface. It will track land deformation caused by earthquakes and volcanic activity, monitor deforestation, and measure ice sheet dynamics. This mission will provide timely data to improve disaster response and deepen understanding of climate change impacts, making it a vital tool for scientists and policymakers worldwide. 4. Artemis II Launch Date: April 2026 Destination: Lunar Orbit Objective: Conduct the first crewed mission of the Artemis program to test spacecraft systems in lunar orbit. Overview: Artemis II marks NASA's return to crewed lunar missions after decades. Four astronauts will orbit the Moon aboard the Orion spacecraft, launched by the powerful Space Launch System (SLS). This 10-day mission will test life support, navigation, and communication systems in the deep space environment, ensuring readiness for the subsequent Artemis III landing mission. Artemis II is a major step toward establishing a long-term human presence on the Moon. 5. Gaganyaan-2 Launch Date: 2025 (Test Flights) Destination: Low Earth Orbit Objective: Validate safety, life support, and avionics systems for India's first crewed spaceflight. Overview: Gaganyaan-2 is part of India's ambitious human spaceflight program. The uncrewed test flights will rigorously evaluate the spacecraft's critical systems, including environmental controls and emergency procedures. These tests are essential to ensure astronaut safety for the planned Gaganyaan-3 mission. Success will place India among the few nations capable of independently sending humans to space, marking a significant milestone in its space capabilities. 6. Dragonfly Launch Date: July 2028 Destination: Titan (Saturn's Moon) Objective: Explore Titan's organic-rich surface and study prebiotic chemistry. Overview: Dragonfly is a unique rotorcraft lander designed to fly across Titan's diverse and complex terrain. Titan's thick atmosphere and organic molecules make it one of the most intriguing places to study prebiotic chemistry and the potential for life beyond Earth. Dragonfly will analyze surface composition, weather patterns, and chemical processes, providing unprecedented insight into how life's building blocks might form in environments vastly different from Earth. 7. Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Launch Date: September 2026 Destination: Phobos (Mars' Moon) Objective: Explore Mars' moons and return samples from Phobos to Earth. Overview: JAXA's MMX mission aims to solve the mystery of Mars' moons' origins by collecting and returning samples from Phobos. The mission will also conduct detailed observations of Deimos. Understanding whether these moons are captured asteroids or formed from Mars itself will shed light on the history of the Martian system and the early solar system. The sample return is a complex feat that will provide invaluable material for laboratory analysis on Earth. 8. Space Rider Launch Date: 2027 Destination: Low Earth Orbit Objective: Conduct reusable microgravity experiments in orbit. Overview: ESA's Space Rider is a reusable, autonomous spaceplane designed to carry payloads for scientific and technological experiments in microgravity. It will enable longer-duration studies on biological processes, materials science, and plant growth, helping researchers understand how space conditions affect various systems. Its reusability lowers costs and increases access to space for European researchers and industry. 9. SPHEREx Launch Date: April 2025 Destination: Earth Orbit Objective: Conduct an all-sky infrared survey to study galaxy evolution, cosmic inflation, and dark energy. Overview: SPHEREx will map the entire sky in infrared light, providing a treasure trove of data about the universe's structure and history. It will investigate the origins of galaxies, measure cosmic inflation's fingerprints, and explore the mysterious dark energy driving the universe's accelerated expansion. This mission promises to answer fundamental questions about the cosmos with a new level of precision. 10. VERITAS Launch Date: 2028 Destination: Venus Objective: Map Venus' surface geology to understand its tectonics and volcanic history. Overview: VERITAS will produce high-resolution maps of Venus' surface using radar to penetrate its thick clouds. By studying Venus' tectonic activity and volcanic processes, the mission seeks to explain why Venus evolved so differently from Earth despite their similar size and composition. VERITAS will also help assess Venus' potential for past habitability and provide context for comparative planetology. These missions represent the cutting edge of space exploration, combining human spaceflight, robotic explorers, and Earth observation to expand our knowledge of the solar system and our home planet. As they launch and unfold over the next decade, they will inspire new discoveries and redefine humanity's place in the cosmos.
Indian Express
30-06-2025
- Science
- Indian Express
Top 10 upcoming space missions to watch in 2025 and beyond
Space exploration is soaring to new heights in 2025, with a thrilling lineup of missions set to expand our understanding of the cosmos, from lunar landscapes to distant moons and Earth's own climate. While SpaceX continues to bolster global connectivity through its Starlink megaconstellation—demonstrated by its successful doubleheader launch of 53 satellites (27 in Group 10-34 and 26 in Group 15-7) on June 28, 2025, from Cape Canaveral and Vandenberg Space Force Bases – the global space community is gearing up for a series of groundbreaking missions. These upcoming endeavours, led by NASA, ESA, ISRO, JAXA, and others, promise to push the boundaries of science and human exploration. 1. Intuitive Machines IM-3 (PRISM) Launch Date: 2026 Destination: Moon Description: As part of NASA's Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program, Intuitive Machines' IM-3 mission will deliver scientific payloads and rovers to the lunar surface. This mission aims to study lunar geology and test technologies for future human exploration under NASA's Artemis program. Two previous launches faced challenges in landing. 2. ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) Launch Date: December 2025 Destination: Mars Description: NASA's ESCAPADE mission, developed with UC Berkeley, consists of two small satellites, 'Blue' and 'Gold,' designed to orbit Mars at different altitudes. They will study the planet's plasma and magnetic fields to understand how Mars lost its atmosphere, a key factor in assessing its past habitability. 3. NASA-ISRO Synthetic Aperture Radar (NISAR) Launch Date: 2025 Destination: Earth Orbit Description: A collaborative mission between NASA and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), NISAR will use dual-frequency radar to monitor Earth's surface with high precision. It will track land movements related to earthquakes, volcanic eruptions, and environmental changes like deforestation and ice melt. 4. Artemis II Launch Date: April 2026 Destination: Lunar Orbit Description: NASA's Artemis II will be the first crewed mission of the Artemis program, sending four astronauts on a 10-day mission to orbit the Moon, testing the Orion spacecraft and Space Launch System (SLS) for future lunar landings. 5. Gaganyaan-2 Launch Date: 2025 (Test Flights) Destination: Low Earth Orbit Description: ISRO's Gaganyaan program will conduct two un-crewed test flights in 2025 to validate life support, avionics, and safety systems for India's first crewed mission, Gaganyaan-3. These missions are critical steps toward India becoming the fourth nation to independently send humans to space. 6. Space Rider Launch Date: 2027 Destination: Low Earth Orbit Description: ESA's Space Rider is a reusable, uncrewed spaceplane designed to conduct microgravity experiments in low Earth orbit. It will study plant growth, material behavior, and biological processes in near-weightless conditions. 7. Dragonfly Launch Date: July 2028 Destination: Titan (Saturn's Moon) Description: NASA's Dragonfly is a rotorcraft mission to Titan, set to explore its organic-rich surface and study prebiotic chemistry, despite delays due to funding and technical reviews. 8. Martian Moons eXploration (MMX) Launch Date: September 2026 Destination: Phobos (Mars' Moon) Description: JAXA's MMX mission will explore Mars' moons, Phobos and Deimos, landing on Phobos to collect samples for return to Earth by 2031, studying their origins and Mars' early history. (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) Launch Date: 2028 Destination: Venus Description: NASA's VERITAS mission will map Venus' surface in high resolution to study its geology, tectonics, and volcanic activity, aiming to understand why Venus evolved differently from Earth. 10. Sentinel-6C Launch Date: November 2030 Destination: Earth Orbit Description: A NASA-NOAA-ESA-EUMETSAT mission, Sentinel-6C will measure global sea level changes, ocean winds, and water vapor to support climate research, continuing the legacy of Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich and Sentinel-6B.
