Produced by: Tarun Mishra
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have entered into a significant agreement to expand NASA's involvement in the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission, set for a 2028 launch. This ESA-led mission aims to find evidence of past life on Mars.
The ESA previously suspended its joint ExoMars mission with Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, due to sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine.
Credit: ESA
Under the new memorandum of understanding, NASA's Launch Services Program will secure a US commercial launch provider to send the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars. NASA will also provide vital heater units and components of the propulsion system for the rover's landing.
Credit: ESA
The Rosalind Franklin rover will feature a groundbreaking drill capable of reaching depths up to 6.5 feet (2 meters) beneath the Martian surface. This technology will allow for the collection of ice samples that could contain preserved traces of ancient life, shielded from surface radiation and extreme temperatures.
Nicola Fox, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, highlighted the rover's unique drilling capabilities and onboard laboratory as having exceptional scientific value for the search for past life on Mars. The mission represents a strong US-Europe partnership in solar system exploration.
NASA is contributing key components to the rover's main science instrument, the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer, through partnerships with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the French space agency CNES. This instrument will search for life’s building blocks in Martian soil samples.
NASA will also work with the US Department of Energy to provide lightweight radioisotope heater units. These units are crucial for keeping the rover operational in Mars' harsh environment.
The Rosalind Franklin rover mission is part of the larger Mars Sample Return campaign, a multi-mission effort jointly led by NASA and ESA to explore Mars and collect samples for return to Earth.
As the 2028 launch date nears, the combined expertise and resources of NASA and ESA will be crucial in unlocking Mars' ancient secrets and potentially discovering evidence of extraterrestrial life within our solar system.