NASA’s Twin ESCAPADE Spacecraft to Slingshot Past Earth on Way to Mars

An Unprecedented Maneuver on the Way to Mars

NASA's twin ESCAPADE (Escape and Plasma Acceleration and Dynamics Explorers) spacecraft are approaching a major milestone on their journey to Mars. In just a few days, the spacecraft will perform a maneuver never before flown by any agency spacecraft.

Double Powered Earth Flyby Technique

During the planned maneuver, each of the two ESCAPADE spacecraft will execute a "powered" flyby of Earth. By combining Earth's gravitational pull with an active engine burn, the spacecraft will slingshot themselves toward their target destination, Mars.

Scientific Purpose and Mission Horizons

This dual slingshot technique provides the necessary acceleration for the spacecraft to reach Mars efficiently. Once at Mars, the twin probes will investigate the planet's plasma and magnetic environment to better understand solar wind interactions.