Energy News
MARSDAILY
NASA confirms support for delayed European Mars rover: ESA

NASA confirms support for delayed European Mars rover: ESA

by AFP Staff Writers
Bremen, Germany (AFP) Nov 26, 2025
NASA has confirmed that it will contribute to Europe's Martian rover Rosalind Franklin, which is scheduled to launch in 2028 after repeated delays, the European Space Agency said on Wednesday.

The rover aims to be the first on the red planet capable of drilling up to two metres (6.5 feet) below the surface to search for extraterrestrial life.

However, the mission relies on several elements from NASA, which US President Donald Trump has targeted with steep budget cuts since returning to the White House in January.

ESA director general Josef Aschbacher said he had received "a letter from the NASA administration to confirm the contributions" of the US space agency to the mission.

"That is good news," Aschbacher said on the sidelines of the ESA's ministerial council meeting being held this week in the German city of Bremen.

The mission was originally intended to launch in 2020, but suffered several setbacks.

In 2022, it was suspended after the ESA ended cooperation with Russia -- the agency's main partner for the mission -- following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.

The ESA then turned to the United States for help.

Aschbacher said NASA was contributing to three of the mission's elements: the launcher, radioisotope heater unit and braking engine.

The braking engine had been confirmed some time ago, but the other two elements will be a relief for the ESA.

NASA is also providing "one instrument to analyse traces of possible life on Mars," Aschbacher added.

The rover, which is named after British scientist Rosalind Franklin, is planned to touch down on the Martian surface in 2030.

Related Links
Mars News and Information at MarsDaily.com
Lunar Dreams and more

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
MARSDAILY
Key ExoMars Rover part ships from Aberystwyth
Aberystwyth, Wales (SPX) Oct 13, 2025
The search for life on Mars takes a leap forward today, as a key instrument for a major space mission begins its journey from Aberystwyth University to Italy for testing. The infrared spectrometer, named Enfys, will be a part of the suite of remote sensing instruments onboard the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover. The Rosalind Franklin Rover is part of the European Space Agency's ExoMars programme and Europe's first Mars rover. Designed to be operated remotely across the planet's rugged ... read more

MARSDAILY
Carbon monoxide enables rapid atomic scale control for fuel cell catalysts

Singapore sets course for 'green' methanol ship fuel supplies

Methane conversion enabled by iron catalyst delivers pharmaceutical compounds

Illinois team creates aviation fuel from food waste with circular economy benefits

MARSDAILY
Solar-powered gel delivers freshwater and recovers boron from seawater

Tin perovskite study points to more stable lead free solar cells

Solar cell defect analysis advances with new transient response technique

Floating solar panels show promise, but environmental impacts vary

MARSDAILY
S.Africa seeks to save birds from wind turbine risks

Vertical wind turbines may soon power UK railways using tunnel airflow

Danish wind giant Orsted to cut workforce by a quarter

French-German duo wins mega offshore wind energy project

MARSDAILY
Policies to expand US grid weigh cost reliability and emissions

Keep energy infrastructure out of war, Turkey warns Moscow, Kyiv

UN slams 'meagre' COP results, 'fatal inaction' of leaders

Clean energy production from food waste enhanced by biochar in two stage digestion system

MARSDAILY
Highly Efficient Lead Free Material Converts Motion into Electricity

Wafer-scale capacitors produced in one second with rapid heating and cooling process

Zap Energy achieves extreme fusion plasma pressures in new FuZE-3 trial

Adoption of dynamic control technology improves EV charging grid integration

MARSDAILY
Delhi records over 200,000 respiratory illness cases due to toxic air

Watchdog says rollback of EU green rules rushed, unbalanced

Trump admin aims to roll back limits on deadly air pollution

New research measures how much plastic is lethal for marine life

MARSDAILY
Norway to examine scenarios for post-oil economy

Trump confirms call with Maduro, Caracas slams US maneuvers

Iran Guards warn US vessels during drill in Gulf

Fighting intensifies in oil-rich southern Sudan

MARSDAILY
Martian butterfly crater reveals low angle impact and buried lava history

Chinese team runs long term Martian dust cycle simulation with GoMars model

Scientists trace ancient mega watersheds on Mars

NASA rover hears electric crackles inside Mars dust devils

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2026 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.