The ExoMars mission has had quite a journey. At first, the European Space Agency (ESA) turned to Russia for help with the launch. They needed Russia’s Proton rockets to send the orbiter and rover to Mars. In return, ESA agreed to include Russian science instruments in the mission. This was significant for Russian researchers, who otherwise had little chance of sending their projects to the red planet.
In 2016, Russia successfully launched the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. This spacecraft continues to orbit Mars today, providing valuable scientific data and acting as a communication link for NASA’s Curiosity and Perseverance rovers. However, a small European tech demo probe that hitched a ride with the orbiter unfortunately crash-landed on Mars.
Delays pushed the ExoMars rover’s launch from 2018 to 2020. By that time, the rover was named after British chemist Rosalind Franklin. Just as the mission was nearly ready, parachute test failures and the COVID-19 pandemic caused another setback, pushing the launch to late 2022.
In February 2022, everything changed when Russia invaded Ukraine. ESA cut ties with Russia’s space agency, which affected the ExoMars mission. The Russian rocket and descent system had already been built, but ESA withdrew two Russian scientific instruments from the project.
Fortunately, NASA stepped in to assist. In 2024, ESA and NASA formalized a partnership. NASA agreed to provide the launch vehicle, the descent engines needed for landing, and small nuclear-powered heaters to keep the rover’s electronics warm during Mars’s cold nights. NASA had also previously delivered a mass spectrometer for the rover to analyze Martian soil and search for organic molecules.
ESA is taking charge of the rover and the spacecraft that will carry it to Mars. Airbus built the rover in the UK and is also supplying the main frame for the lander. This lander will touch down on Mars and deploy ramps for the rover. Meanwhile, the German company OHB created the spacecraft to transport the rover from Earth, and Thales Alenia Space, based in Italy, is overseeing the mission’s assembly and launch preparations.
As of now, experts emphasize the importance of international collaboration in space exploration. According to recent data, nearly 70% of scientists believe that global partnerships enhance research quality and innovation in space technology. The ExoMars mission exemplifies this spirit of collaboration, showing that even through hardships, nations can come together for a common goal.
With eyes on Mars, the world eagerly awaits the results of this ambitious mission. The revival of ExoMars demonstrates that, despite setbacks, determination and partnership can pave the way to new discoveries beyond our planet.
