In November 2025, the ESCAPADE spacecraft launched from Cape Canaveral on its journey to Mars. On board were two camera systems built specifically for the mission.
The cameras were designed and constructed by faculty and students at Northern Arizona University, with support from the University of California Berkeley and Rocket Lab. The collaboration aimed to produce instruments capable of surviving the harsh space environment.
During the cruise to Mars, the cameras captured the first views of Earth and Moon. These images are used for calibration and to verify that the optics and electronics are working correctly before the spacecraft begins its scientific observations at Mars.
ESCAPADE’s primary goal is to study the plasma and particle environment around Mars. Researchers want to learn how the solar wind interacts with the thin Martian atmosphere and what processes drive atmospheric loss. The results could help inform future human exploration of the Red Planet.