NASA Confirmed To Support ESA In Launching ExoMars Mission

Illustration of ExoMars rides on Mars (photo: dock. ESA)

JAKARTA The European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed that NASA will continue to assist them in launching the ExoMars, a Mars rover whose launch has long been delayed.

This announcement was made at the ESA Council of Ministers meeting in Brussels on Wednesday, November 25, as reported by Space. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher welcomed the decision.

"I received yesterday's letter from NASA administration to confirm NASA's contribution to Blind Franklin," Aschbacher said, quoted on Friday, November 28. "So, this is certainly good news."

ExoMars Explorerlind Franklin is a Mars exploration robot weighing 300 kilograms. The spacecraft is equipped with a 2 meter deep drill that will be used to search for signs of life beneath the Martian surface.

This project has actually been initiated since the early 2000s, but there are many major challenges facing ESA. Since it was initiated, ESA has been working with NASA, but the US space agency withdrew in 2012.

This happened due to budget cuts during Barack Obama's leadership. ESA then sought support for Russia and scheduled launches in September 2022 using Russian Proton rockets.

However, the plan was scrapped in early 2022 after the ESA cut ties with Roscosmos, based on the Russian invasion of Ukraine. After this termination of relations, NASA resumed and offered assistance.

The latest launch date for this rover is now set for 2028. NASA's contribution to ExoMars is estimated at $375 million. As long as this mission goes on, NASA will provide three very important elements.

The elements include rocket launchers, radioisotopic heating, and retro brake rockets for safe landings. Aschbacher stated that, "This confirmation has been given to us (ESA) in writing, so this is a very important step."