Airbus takes over Mars mission from Russian space agency

The British Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin, has faced significant delays due to geopolitical tensions surrounding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Originally scheduled for a 2023 launch as part of the ExoMars program under the European Space Agency (ESA), the rover became stranded when the contract with Russia's space agency Roscosmos was canceled. This setback prompted the UK Space Agency to invest £150 million into Airbus to construct a new landing system for the rover. Now, with the new plans in place, the mission aims to launch in 2028, with the rover expected to land on Mars by 2030. The Rosalind Franklin rover is engineered to search for signs of past or present life by drilling into the Martian surface. The collaborative efforts to replace the Russian landing system are seen as crucial for the UK's space sector and showcase the shift in partnerships due to international sanctions and the evolving landscape of space exploration. Airbus, involved in the rover's initial design, has now committed to building the landing platform, which will employ a parachute-assisted braking system. The anticipation surrounding this mission is palpable, with hopes that it will not only advance scientific understanding but also bolster the UK’s position in the highly competitive space race.