Blue Origin's highly anticipated New Glenn rocket is set to make its inaugural flight with a noteworthy payload – a pair of Mars probes for NASA's Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers (ESCAPADE) mission. This relatively low-cost venture, with a budget of approximately $79 million, aims to study plasma and magnetic fields around the red planet, shedding light on crucial factors that drive Martian climate change.

ESCAPADE represents a shift towards smaller planetary science missions that allow scientists to propose concepts for modest probes to explore the solar system. The lower cost of these missions enables NASA to take on additional risk, as launching a billion-dollar Mars mission on an unproven rocket would be a considerable gamble.

Bradley Smith, director of launch services at NASA, expressed confidence that the ESCAPADE mission will likely be the very first launch of the New Glenn rocket, describing it as an "incredibly ambitious" endeavor. However, given the narrow launch window for Mars missions, ESCAPADE must take flight next year, making it imperative to achieve a successful launch.

Originally scheduled for an August 2024 launch, the precise trajectory for ESCAPADE remains provisional as engineers explore multiple options. The New Glenn rocket, boasting a robust lifting capacity, is expected to launch the two half-ton ESCAPADE satellites either via a direct-to-Mars trajectory or by deploying them into Earth's orbit before propelling them towards their destination. While recent updates on the trajectory have not been disclosed, researchers remain hopeful that the New Glenn rocket will meet the mission requirements.

The significance of this launch lies not only in the scientific objectives of the ESCAPADE mission but also in the challenges posed by launching on an untested rocket. Blue Origin's history of delays with the New Glenn rocket raises concerns about its readiness for launch. However, with the completion of the company's launch pad at Cape Canaveral and ongoing production of rocket parts, progress is being made towards the historic New Glenn launch.

NASA secured a favorable contract for the ESCAPADE mission with Blue Origin, costing an estimated $20 million. The price reflects the risk associated with launching on a new rocket, especially considering the uncertainties regarding the New Glenn's timeline. Smith acknowledged the schedule risk but refrained from providing a specific percentage, emphasizing that Blue Origin is actively building the necessary hardware.

As NASA embraces the venture-class procurement initiative for this launch, which traditionally involves smaller rockets, the agency acknowledges the trade-off of taking risks with an unproven rocket. Despite these challenges, the prospect of Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket propelling the ESCAPADE mission to Mars has generated considerable excitement within the scientific community.

With the fate of ESCAPADE hanging in the balance, all eyes will be on Blue Origin as it strives to overcome the schedule risk and prove the readiness of the New Glenn rocket. The success of this launch will not only mark a significant milestone for Blue Origin but will also signify another remarkable achievement in exploring the mysteries of our neighboring planet.