Abstract EANA2024-83

Finding signs of life elsewhere is one of the most important scientific objectives of our time.

From the very beginning in 2002, ExoMars was conceived to answer one question:  Was there ever life on Mars?  All project design decisions have focused and continue to centre on the achievement of this one scientific goal.  This is particularly the case for the Rosalind Franklin rover.  Putting the science team in the best possible condition to search for physical and chemical biosignatures has led to:  

1. The need to have a 2-m depth drill;
2. The choice of payload instruments (including the trade-offs we had to make).
3. The requirements for the science potential and age of the landing site.
4. The surface exploration strategy: which targets, how much travelling, and the way that the instruments will be used together.

Following the ending of the collaboration with Roscosmos, this presentation will explain how ESA is reconfiguring the Rosalind Franklin mission for a launch in 2028, what the challenges are, and plans to improve mission science readiness.

The revised mission is being prepared in partnership with NASA, who will contribute a launcher, the descent engines for the lander, and radioisotope heating units (RHUs) for the rover.

A new European Entry Descent and Landing Module (EDLM) will deliver Rosalind Franklin to Oxia Planum.  The mission will follow a new trajectory to ensure that the rover touches down at the beginning of spring.

The electronic boards of the rover analytical laboratory instruments are being refurbished.  A new mast infrared spectrometer ‘Enfys’ is in development to replace the disembarked ISEM instrument.

Efforts are underway to maintain/update systems at the Rover Operations Control Centre (ROCC - Turin, Italy).  Testing and simulations are planned for the coming years at ROCC, providing opportunities to exercise science and control team processes.

A special Science Knowledge Management Programme (SKP) has been set up for supporting key expertise in the science and instrument teams.  SKP ensures that valuable team knowledge and experience that was built in preparation for the 2022 mission opportunity can be retained.