NASA's ESCAPADE Mission to Study Martian Aurora and Atmosphere
The ESCAPADE mission, led by the University of California, Berkeley, is set to explore Martian aurora and the thermal properties of Mars' surface and atmosphere. The mission involves two spacecraft built by Rocket Lab, currently in a 'loiter' orbit around Lagrange point 2, about a million miles from Earth. These spacecraft will use space-qualified cameras to capture images of Martian aurora and conduct thermal studies. The mission is scheduled to reach Mars in September 2027, following a gravity assist maneuver from Earth in November 2026. The recent imaging of Earth and the Moon by ESCAPADE's cameras serves as a calibration check, ensuring the equipment is ready for its primary mission objectives. 
