Here’s how orbital dynamics wizardry helped save NASA’s next Mars mission
Blue Origin scrubbed Sunday's launch attempt due to poor weather, a cruise ship in restricted waters near the launch site, and ground system issues. The company says the next available launch opportunity is Wednesday, November 12, with a window opening at 2:50 pm EST (19:50 UTC).
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida-The field of astrodynamics isn't a magical discipline, but sometimes it seems like trajectory analysts can pull a solution out of a hat.
That's what it took to save NASA's ESCAPADE mission from a lengthy delay, and possible cancellation, after its rocket wasn't ready to send it toward Mars during its appointed launch window last year. ESCAPADE, short for Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers, consists of two identical spacecraft setting off for the red planet as soon as Sunday with a launch aboard Blue Origin's massive New Glenn rocket.