NASA and ESA to launch ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission

NASA and European Space Agency (ESA) have formalized an agreement to expand NASA’s involvement in the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover mission, an initiative led by ESA slated for launch in 2028, aimed at uncovering traces of ancient life on Mars.

Under this memorandum of understanding, NASA’s Launch Services Program will secure a US commercial launch provider for the Rosalind Franklin rover and will furnish heater units and elements of the propulsion system necessary for the rover’s Mars landing. A novel instrument onboard the rover will be equipped with the first drill capable of reaching depths of up to 6.5 ft below the Martian surface to retrieve ice samples shielded from surface radiation and extreme temperatures.

Nicola FoxAssociate Administrator, Science Mission Directorate at NASA Headquarters in Washington, said: “The Rosalind Franklin rover’s unique drilling capabilities and onboard samples laboratory have outstanding scientific value for humanity’s search for evidence of past life on Mars. NASA supports the Rosalind Franklin mission to continue the strong partnership between the United States and Europe to explore the unknown in our solar system and beyond.”

Through an existing collaborative venture with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) and the French space agency CNES (Centre National d’Etudes Spatiales), NASA is supplying crucial components for the Rosalind Franklin rover’s primary science instrument, the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer, tasked with identifying the molecular building blocks of life within soil samples.

NASA’s enduring partnership with the Department of Energy will also be leveraged, particularly for the utilization of lightweight radioisotope heater units for the rover.

The Rosalind Franklin rover mission aligns with the broader Mars Sample Return multi-mission initiative, jointly led by both NASA and ESA, further enhancing the collective effort to deepen our understanding of the Red Planet.