MREP Programme

Within the Directorate of Science and Robotic Exploration the Mars Robotic Exploration Preparation (MREP) programme is an optional programme that prepares Europe's future contribution to the international exploration of Mars. MREP will define and study future missions to Mars following the ExoMars programme, and systematically identify, develop and qualify the required technologies for these missions. The goal is to progressively enable more ambitious missions to Mars, culminating in a leading ESA role in the acquisition and safe return of Martian samples.

Currently, ESA does not have the expertise required for a Mars Sample Return (MSR) mission: precision soft-landing probes and operating them on planetary surfaces, identifying and retrieving samples and then launch them off again to dock remotely in Mars orbit are key to the success of such mission. There is also the difficulty of preserving the samples in pristine condition and getting them safely through re-entry back to the surface of the Earth.

Although the tasks in an international cooperation for such an ambitious mission are likely to be shared, the MREP programme prepares ESA for the key technologies required.

The second slice of the programme was subscribed at the Ministerial Conference in 2012. The first work is now under implementation and candidate missions for technology demonstration are currently under discussion.