ESA"s ExoMars rover set to land on Mars before sample return

The ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover is set to explore Mars, particularly the Oxia Planum area, where evidence of past water has been found. This mission is significant as it aims to identify biosignatures, which are potential indicators of past life on the planet. The rover will operate for approximately seven months, utilizing solar panels and radioisotope pellets to maintain energy during the Martian night. The scientific community is eager to analyze subsurface samples, as they are less exposed to harsh surface conditions. Meanwhile, the Mars Sample Return Mission, a collaboration between NASA and ESA, is experiencing delays. The current plan involves a NASA lander equipped with an ESA-built sample transfer arm, expected to launch in 2031. This mission will retrieve samples collected by NASA's Perseverance rover and transfer them to a container for return to Earth. The Earth Return Orbiter (ERO) is also part of this mission, designed to capture the sample canister in Mars orbit and transport it back to Earth by 2035. The timeline for these missions is critical, as any further delays could hinder the opportunity to study potential evidence of past life on Mars. The Rosalind Franklin rover's findings could provide valuable insights while the sample return mission is still in development. The urgency of these missions reflects the scientific community's desire to explore and understand Mars's history and its potential for past life. In conclusion, the upcoming missions by ESA and NASA represent a pivotal moment in Mars exploration. The findings from the Rosalind Franklin rover and the eventual return of Perseverance's samples could significantly advance our understanding of the planet's past and its capacity to support life.