Watch: How UC Berkeley’s Space Sciences Laboratory leads NASA missions like ESCAPADE

The Space Sciences Laboratory at UC Berkeley is one of only two university-based centers in the U.S. capable of overseeing the full lifecycle of a satellite mission. Engineers at the lab monitor spacecraft orbiting the moon, track solar geomagnetic storms, and coordinate engine firings for missions to Mars. The lab has designed, built, and operated instruments for over 100 satellite projects, including ESCAPADE, a mission consisting of two spacecraft named Blue and Gold.

ESCAPADE, led by Rob Lillis, is scheduled to launch on November 13, 2025. The mission’s twin satellites will study Mars’ magnetic field and measure atmospheric gas escape to understand how the planet lost its atmosphere over billions of years. The spacecraft will enter orbit around Mars in late 2027, providing the first stereo view of the planet’s magnetosphere.

The ESCAPADE spacecraft were constructed by Rocket Lab USA, based in Long Beach, California, while SSL scientists built the mission’s science instruments, deployable booms, and data processing system. The lab’s contributions include instruments designed to map Mars’ ionosphere and space environment, offering insights into the planet’s evolution.

The mission’s findings will aid future crewed missions to Mars by assessing conditions affecting radio communication and surface environment factors critical for human survival. Data from ESCAPADE will inform planning for potential colonization efforts and support the success of upcoming manned expeditions to the Red Planet.