Can drilling two meters deep reveal the secrets of Martian life?
In short: Mars is a world of extremes, featuring massive volcanoes and canyons stretching over 5,000 kilometres. While orbiters have already detected methane in the atmosphere, scientists still don't know if it comes from geological activity or ancient life. The ExoMars program aims to solve this mystery by digging deeper than ever before.
The ExoMars program, a joint initiative between the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russia's Roscosmos, seeks to characterize the Red Planet's past habitability. The mission's first component, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), launched in 2016 to scan the atmosphere for methane and other trace gases. While TGO provides vital data, the mission's ultimate goal rests with the Rosalind Franklin rover. This effort builds upon previous findings from the Mars Express mission. That spacecraft discovered water on the planet and mapped the southern polar ice cap.
As Europe's first Mars rover, Rosalind Franklin is designed to search for biomarkers—chemical evidence of life—buried beneath the surface. To find these, the rover will use a specialized drill to reach depths of approximately 2 meters (about 6.5 to 6.6 feet). This depth is critical, as it allows the rover to access soil that has been protected from harsh surface radiation and extreme temperatures for 3 to 4 billion years. NASA is supporting the mission by providing the main electronics and a mass spectrometer. They also plan to supply the propulsion system for the lander.
The mission has faced significant hurdles. A 2016 test of landing technology, the Schiaparelli lander, crashed after contact was lost shortly before touchdown. Furthermore, the mission's original partnership with Roscosmos dissolved in July 2022 following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Despite these delays, the Rosalind Franklin rover is currently scheduled to launch in October 2028, with a target landing in 2030. The rover's landing was originally intended to use a Russian platform named Kazachok. This component would have assisted with climate science and imaging.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: ExoMars - building on past missions to Mars
- Also: ExoMars Program - NASA Science
- Also: ExoMars: Europe
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