Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin sends twin probes to Mars, recovers booster in a first

Blue Origin's New Glenn rocket successfully launched NASA's ESCAPADE mission to Mars, carrying two identical spacecraft. The 321-foot rocket took off from Cape Canaveral after a four-day delay. The ESCAPADE spacecraft will map Mars’ upper atmosphere and magnetic fields, aiming to understand how solar wind affects the planet and protect future astronauts from radiation.

Nicky Fox from NASA stated, “The ESCAPADE mission is part of our strategy to understand Mars’ past and present so we can send the first astronauts there safely.”

Additionally, Blue Origin achieved successful booster recovery, similar to SpaceX's operations, enhancing its recycling efforts. The spacecraft will reach Mars by 2027, marking a significant milestone in space exploration.