NASA Begins Work on ESA’s Rosalind Franklin Mission to Mars

NASA has also found a way to collaborate with the European Space Agency's support on the Rosalind Franklin mission, which is one of the major components of the ExoMars programme to investigate the Mars surface. The cooperation is achieved following the redesign of the mission by ESA following the delays and the termination of the cooperation with Russia. To guarantee mission success, NASA will offer vital components, launch support, and technical expertise. The rover, which is set to be launched in 2028, will explore evidence of life on Earth in the past on Mars through advanced onboard laboratory and drilling capabilities, representing a big stride in international space cooperation.

Rosalind Franklin Mars Mission – Key Roles & Objectives

• The Rosalind Franklin rover is also an initiative of the ExoMars programme, under the leadership of ESA, to explore life on Mars.

• The main goal of the mission is to find out whether or not there was ever life on Mars.

• The rover will be able to drill as deep as 2 metres into the surface of Mars, which is deeper than ever before.

• The presence of organic molecules and biosignatures is more likely to be discovered in subsurface exploration.

• To supply the mission with a launch vehicle, hardware and technical services, NASA has granted support for the project.

• It is projected that the rover will be launched in 2028 on the SpaceX Falcon Heavy, located in the United States.

• The attendance of NASA follows the termination of Russia as a partner of ESA and its attempts to engage in new relationships with other countries.

• The mission comprises a carrier module, descent module and landing platform to safely land on Mars.

• The rover will touch down in the Oxia Planum area, where there are great deposits of ancient clay.

• It will have an onboard laboratory that is the most advanced to examine samples of soil on Mars itself.

• The mission is based on previous ExoMars successful flights, such as Trace Gas Orbiter, which was launched in 2016.

• NASA will also supply radioisotope heater units to enable the rover to withstand the harsh conditions of the Martian environment.

• The rover also has state-of-the-art navigation systems that have allowed it to move independently on the Martian surface.

• This partnership underlines the international collaboration in the exploration of deep spaces and contributes to the advancement of scientific investigation.

Space Missions - PYQs

Question: Which organisation launched the Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)? (UPSC Prelims)
A. NASA
B. ESA
C. ISRO
D. Roscosmos

Answer: C. ISRO
Explanation: ISRO launched Mangalyaan in 2013, making India the first Asian country to reach Mars orbit.

Question: The Artemis Program is associated with which space agency? (SSC CGL)
A. ISRO
B. NASA
C. CNSA
D. ESA

Answer: B. NASA
Explanation: NASA leads the Artemis programme, aiming to send humans back to the Moon.

Question: Chandrayaan-3 mission is related to: (SSC CHSL)
A. Mars
B. Venus
C. Moon
D. Jupiter

Answer: C. Moon
Explanation: Chandrayaan-3 is India’s mission to achieve a soft landing on the Moon.

Question: ExoMars mission is developed by which organisation? (UPSC)
A. NASA
B. ISRO
C. ESA
D. CNSA

Answer: C. ESA
Explanation: The European Space Agency developed the ExoMars programme to search for signs of life on Mars.

Question: Aditya-L1 mission is related to the study of: (UPSC Prelims)
A. Moon
B. Sun
C. Mars
D. Asteroids

Answer: B. Sun
Explanation: Aditya-L1 is India’s first solar mission to study the Sun’s corona and solar activity.

Question: Tianwen-1 mission was launched by which country? (SSC GD)
A. USA
B. Russia
C. China
D. Japan

Answer: C. China
Explanation: China National Space Administration launched Tianwen-1, China’s first Mars exploration mission.

Question: The James Webb Space Telescope is a joint project of: (UPSC)
A. NASA, ESA, JAXA
B. NASA, ESA, CSA
C. ISRO, NASA, ESA
D. NASA, Roscosmos, ESA

Answer: B. NASA, ESA, CSA
Explanation: It is a collaboration between NASA, European Space Agency, and Canadian Space Agency.

Question: Perseverance rover is part of which mission? (SSC CPO)
A. Apollo
B. Artemis
C. Mars 2020
D. Viking

Answer: C. Mars 2020
Explanation: NASA’s Mars 2020 mission successfully landed the Perseverance rover on Mars.

Question: Gaganyaan mission is related to: (UPSC/SSC)
A. Satellite launch
B. Human spaceflight
C. Moon landing
D. Space telescope

Answer: B. Human spaceflight
Explanation: Gaganyaan is India’s first human spaceflight mission.

Question: Chandrayaan-1 is known for which major discovery? (UPSC Prelims)
A. Helium-3
B. Water molecules on Moon
C. Oxygen on Mars
D. Ice on Jupiter

Answer: B. Water molecules on the Moon
Explanation: Chandrayaan-1 confirmed the presence of water molecules on the Moon.

Question: Parker Solar Probe studies: (UPSC)
A. Mars
B. Moon
C. Sun
D. Venus

Answer: C. Sun
Explanation: NASA’s Parker Solar Probe studies the Sun’s outer atmosphere (corona).

Question: Which country achieved the first soft landing on the Moon? (SSC MTS)
A. USA
B. USSR
C. China
D. India

Answer: B. USSR
Explanation: The Soviet Union achieved the first soft landing with Luna 9 in 1966.

Conclusion – Rosalind Franklin Mars Mission

The Rosalind Franklin Mars Mission belongs to the ExoMars project, which is managed by the European Space Agency under the supervision of NASA. The mission will be designed to look at evidence of the existence of life in the past on Mars via drilling up to two metres beneath the surface, where organic matter has the potential to be preserved. The rover will examine soil samples on Mars with advanced scientific equipment. Planned to launch in 2028, it will be a significant advancement in space exploration and scientific cooperation around the globe.