An artist’s concept depicts the Rosalind Franklin rover on Mars. [Courtesy: NASA]
Key Takeaways:
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) have formalized a new partnership for the ExoMars mission, with NASA significantly increasing its contributions (including launch services and key hardware) after ESA severed ties with Russia.
The mission's core, the Rosalind Franklin rover, is now projected to launch by October 2028 for a 2030 landing, aiming to conduct an ambitious search for signs of past and present life on Mars.
The Rosalind Franklin rover is equipped with unique capabilities, including autonomous deep drilling up to 6.5 feet to collect shielded samples for on-site analysis, and advanced "wheel-walking" navigation.
NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) are joining forces to land an ESA rover on Mars as early as 2030.
NASA and ESA on Thursday signed a fresh memorandum of understanding (MOU) to launch the latter’s Rosalind Franklin rover to the Red Planet as early as 2028, bolstered by expanded U.S. contributions to the mission.
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Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.
