NASA's ESCAPADE mission to launch today: How to watch
NASA is launching two small spacecraft, Blue and Gold, on November 12, 2025, as part of the ESCAPADE mission.
The spacecraft will remain near Earth for about a year before departing for Mars in November 2026 and arriving in 2027.
The ESCAPADE mission aims to figure out how solar wind messes with Mars's magnetic field and atmosphere—basically helping us piece together the planet's climate story.
The project is run by UC Berkeley's Space Sciences Lab.
The 2 spacecraft will map out Mars's magnetic field and atmosphere
Having a pair means they can cover more ground (well, space), taking measurements from different spots at the same time.
After arriving in 2027, Blue and Gold will adjust their paths for six months so they can map out how energy and matter move around Mars—a big step for understanding what makes the Red Planet tick.
The mission is cost-effective and efficient
ESCAPADE is doing things differently: it'll hang out near Earth for a year before heading to Mars using clever maneuvers that save fuel and money.
With a price tag of just $75 million, it shows you don't need a giant budget to do awesome science on another planet.