A UK aerospace company is set to make history by landing Europe’s first rover on Mars, following a contract win worth £150 million
The contract, awarded by the European Space Agency (ESA) and funded by the UK government through the UK Space Agency, will allow Airbus UK to be the platform to safely deliver the Rosalind Franklin Rover to the surface of the red planet.
The first European-built rover to explore mars
The mission, due to launch in 2028 and land on Mars in 2030, is a major achievement for British space exploration.
It will be the first European-built rover to explore Mars, to uncover signs of past or present life beneath its surface. Named after British scientist Rosalind Franklin, whose work on DNA was groundbreaking, the Rosalind Franklin Rover will drill 2 meters deep into the Martian crust in search of fossilised microbes and other evidence of ancient life.
Airbus’ role in this mission: A rover on Mars
The rover will be built at Airbus’ facilities in Stevenage, where engineers have been working hard on its development.
The landing platform, which Airbus is also designing, will play an important role in ensuring the rover has a safe touchdown. This platform will include large propulsion systems to slow the descent to Mars, a sturdy landing gear system, and ramps allowing the rover to safely drive onto the Martian surface.
This mission results from a collaboration between the UK and several European countries, along with support from international partners like NASA.
The mission was initially scheduled for launch in 2022 but was delayed when the European Space Agency suspended its cooperation with Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
With the UK stepping in to replace Russian components, the mission is now back on track, with new technologies and systems being developed in the UK to replace the lost partnerships.
The scientific goal of the mission
By drilling into the Martian surface, the Rosalind Franklin rover will explore areas of Mars that are typically inhospitable to life, such as regions of high radiation.
Understanding Mars better
By examining samples from these depths, scientists hope to find evidence that could answer the question of whether life ever existed on Mars, and if so, whether it could have supported life similar to that on Earth.
In addition to its search for life, the rover’s findings could help scientists better understand the history of climate change on Mars and shed light on how our planet evolved.
The technologies developed for this mission, including robotics and autonomous systems, have potential applications in challenging environments, such as nuclear power plants and the deep ocean.
The mission is expected to inspire future generations of scientists and engineers, strengthening the UK’s commitment to space exploration.
The UK Space Agency is also excelling in its efforts to fund space-related innovations, including launching a £17 million competition for businesses, universities, and other space organisations to develop next-generation technologies.
As the first European-built rover to touch on Mars, the Rosalind Franklin mission shows a huge leap forward for UK space exploration.
The project has already sparked widespread interest and excitement setting the stage for a new era of scientific discovery on the red planet.
The mission holds the potential to expand our knowledge of Mars and drive technological advances that will benefit life on Earth.
