NASA don explain the next major step for the two ESCAPADE spacecraft: each one go pass near Earth and fire im engine to set course for Mars. Dem plan the first powered flyby for 7 November and the second for 9 November. These manoeuvres never happen yet; the agency never announce say any of the two spacecraft don complete am.
According to NASA mission update of 2 November, each spacecraft go fire im engine for about nine minutes near the point wey e go dey closest to Earth. Earth gravity go change im direction and speed, while the engine go give am extra push. The agency expect the spacecraft to reach Mars on 7 and 9 September 2027. Na mission targets be those dates, no be arrivals wey don happen.
Dem launch ESCAPADE on 13 November 2025, but e no travel straight to Mars. The spacecraft follow route wey bend round Earth–Sun Lagrange point 2, one region beyond Earth for the direction wey face away from Sun. That route bring dem back towards Earth as the planets reach alignment wey go help the next part of the journey.
Dem design the mission to study how solar wind interact with Mars magnetic environment and help remove gas from im atmosphere. Two spacecraft fit compare measurements from different places or times. The project dey find evidence about how the planet environment dey change; e no carry people, and e no announce say Mars don become place wey humans fit settle.
After the flybys, controllers go need some days to check how correct the spacecraft direction be. Dem plan more engine manoeuvres to adjust the routes. NASA also say the flight through one far part of Earth magnetic tail produce observations wey scientists plan to share. That promise no mean say dem don publish discovery wey independent people fit assess already.
Wetin e mean for you. Nigerian students wey dey follow planetary science fit use these dates track separate stages wey evidence fit confirm: departure, navigation, arrival and research. Successful launch no guarantee successful journey. NASA notice discuss telescope viewing from particular places abroad, but e no establish say people fit see dem from Nigeria. Follow mission updates to confirm the flybys instead of taking the schedule as proof say dem don happen.