Artist view: ExoMars lander

Artist view of the landing platform of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission on Mars.

In 2028, ESA will launch this ambitious exploration mission to search for past and present signs of life on Mars. ESA has selected Airbus to design and build the landing platform for the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover. Airbus will build the key systems for the ExoMars lander under contract with Thales Alenia Space (TAS), the lead industrial partner for the Rosalind Franklin mission.

Rosalind Franklin will be the first rover to drill to a depth of up to two metres below the martian surface, acquiring samples buried underground and protected from surface radiation and extreme temperatures.

The mission will also serve to demonstrate key technologies that Europe needs to master for future planetary exploration missions. This includes landing safely on a planet, moving on the surface and analysing samples autonomously.