The joint mission to Mars between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency Roscosmos has finally been suspended due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The mission ExoMars, which included an orbiter launched in 2016 and a rover planned for this year, is now on hold while ESA decides how to proceed.
“As an intergovernmental organization with a mandate to develop and implement space programs in full respect of European values, we deeply deplore the human victims and the tragic consequences of the aggression against Ukraine,” ESA said in a statement. “While acknowledging the impact on the scientific exploration of space, ESA fully aligns itself with the sanctions imposed on Russia by its member states.”
ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover was originally going to be released in 2020, but it was delayed due to the coronavirus. The launch had to be delayed two years due to close to Earth and Mars, which occurs every 26 months. The ESA rover was to be carried to the Martian surface by the Kazachok lander, built by Roscosmos.
Given the invasion of Ukraine, ESA previously stated that it was “highly unlikely” that the ExoMars rover would launch in 2022 as planned. Now it looks like the release will be put on hold indefinitely., and the rover’s future is unclear. The rover has been built by ESA, so there is hope that it could be launched in cooperation with another partner, such as NASA. There is a chance the rover could launch in 2026 or 2028 if the relationship with Roscosmos improves.