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NASA's Twin Spacecraft Will Execute Powered Slingshot Maneuvers on Their Way to Mars
Universe Today · By Evan Gough ·
The Brief
- NASA's twin ESCAPADE spacecraft launched outside the normal Mars launch window.
- The pair will perform powered slingshot maneuvers to boost their speed on the way to Mars.
- Once at Mars, the two spacecraft are set to fly in formation and study how the solar wind interacts with the planet's atmosphere.
Why it matters
The maneuvers show how missions launched outside the usual Mars window can still reach their target by using planetary flybys and engine burns to gain speed.
- #nasa
- #mars
- #escapade
- #space-mission
- #solar-wind
- #spacecraft
NASA's ESCAPADE mission features a pair of identical spacecraft on their way to Mars. They launched outside of the normal launch window, so they'll perform powered slingshot maneuvers to boost their speed. Once there, they'll "fly" in formation and study how the solar wind…
Timeline
Universe Today reports the planned powered slingshot maneuvers
Universe Today
NASA's Twin Spacecraft Will Execute Powered Slingshot Maneuvers on Their Way to Mars