Airbus wins contract for ExoMars lander platform

Source: https://spacenews.com/airbus-wins-contract-for-exomars-lander-platform/

Summary

Airbus has secured a vital contract to build the ExoMars lander, salvaging ESA's Mars mission after Russia's withdrawal. Airbus will design, develop, and construct the lander to carry the Rosalind Franklin rover, dedicated to seeking signs of past or present life. Faced with a tight deadline and complex engineering challenges, Airbus must ensure a safe landing on Mars. This contract strengthens European space capabilities, boosts its industry, and opens opportunities for new international partnerships. ExoMars, amidst growing global interest in Mars, signifies Europe's commitment to exploring the potential for life beyond Earth.

Full News Report

Here's a draft of an SEO-friendly news article about Airbus winning the ExoMars lander platform contract: ## Airbus Wins Contract to Build ExoMars Lander, Salvaging Ambitious Mars Mission **Toulouse, France –** In a move that breathes new life into the European Space Agency’s (ESA) ambitious ExoMars mission, Airbus Defence and Space has **won** a crucial **contract** to build the **lander** platform. The decision, announced today, tasks **Airbus** with replacing a previously Russia-supplied component following the suspension of cooperation with Roscosmos in the wake of the war in Ukraine. This development is paramount for the continuation of **ExoMars**, a groundbreaking mission dedicated to searching for evidence of past or present life on Mars. The new **Airbus**-built **lander** will carry the Rosalind Franklin rover, a sophisticated mobile laboratory designed to drill into the Martian surface and analyze samples for organic molecules. This article will delve into the details of the contract, the challenges Airbus faces, the significance of the ExoMars mission, and the broader implications for international space collaboration. ### Salvaging ExoMars: Airbus Steps Up The ExoMars program, a joint effort between ESA and Roscosmos, faced a significant setback when cooperation with Russia was halted. A critical part of the mission – the Kazachok landing platform – was to be provided by Russia. With that option no longer viable, ESA faced the daunting task of finding a replacement to ensure the rover could safely land on Mars and carry out its scientific objectives. Enter Airbus. As a leading European aerospace company with extensive experience in space exploration, Airbus Defence and Space emerged as the ideal candidate. Their expertise in developing complex space systems, coupled with their understanding of the ExoMars mission, made them a natural fit for this challenging project. The contract awarded to Airbus covers the design, development, and construction of the new lander platform. This includes: * **Structural Design:** Creating a robust structure to withstand the rigors of launch, interplanetary travel, atmospheric entry, descent, and landing on Mars. * **Propulsion Systems:** Developing a sophisticated propulsion system for course correction during the journey to Mars and for controlled descent to the Martian surface. * **Thermal Control:** Implementing a thermal control system to protect the rover and other critical components from the extreme temperatures of space and Mars. * **Power Systems:** Providing a reliable power supply to the rover and lander, likely using solar panels and batteries. * **Communication Systems:** Establishing communication links with Earth to transmit scientific data and receive commands. * **Rover Integration:** Ensuring seamless integration of the Rosalind Franklin rover with the lander platform. ### The Challenge Ahead: A Tight Timeline and Complex Engineering Airbus faces a tight deadline to deliver the new lander platform. The original launch date for ExoMars was repeatedly delayed, and the window of opportunity for launch – based on favorable alignment of Earth and Mars – opens only every two years. The team will need to work diligently and efficiently to meet the new launch date, currently targeted for 2028. The engineering challenges are also significant. Landing on Mars is notoriously difficult. Numerous missions have failed during the entry, descent, and landing (EDL) phase. The Martian atmosphere is thin, making it difficult to slow down a spacecraft using parachutes alone. Airbus will need to draw upon its extensive experience in EDL technologies, potentially incorporating lessons learned from previous Mars missions, including ESA's Schiaparelli demonstrator, which unfortunately failed to land successfully in 2016. This time, redundancy and robust testing are paramount to mission success. ### ExoMars: A Mission to Uncover the Secrets of Life on Mars The ExoMars mission is driven by the fundamental question: Is there, or was there ever, life on Mars? The Rosalind Franklin rover is equipped with a suite of state-of-the-art instruments designed to search for evidence of life, past or present. Key features of the Rosalind Franklin rover include: * **Drill:** A drill capable of penetrating up to two meters below the Martian surface, accessing subsurface samples that are protected from the harsh radiation and oxidation on the surface. * **Analytical Laboratory:** An onboard laboratory equipped with sophisticated instruments to analyze the chemical composition of the samples, looking for organic molecules and other biomarkers. * **Panoramic Camera System (PanCam):** High-resolution cameras to capture panoramic images of the Martian landscape and identify potential areas of interest for further investigation. * **Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies (Ma_MISS):** A spectrometer to study the composition of the subsurface material exposed by the drill. The rover will focus on exploring areas where liquid water may have existed in the past, increasing the chances of finding evidence of past life. If successful, ExoMars would be a monumental scientific achievement, revolutionizing our understanding of the potential for life beyond Earth. ### Impacts and Implications: A New Era for European Space Exploration The Airbus contract has several significant implications: * **Strengthening European Space Capabilities:** The contract underscores Europe's commitment to independent space exploration. By taking on the responsibility of building the lander platform, Europe is demonstrating its growing capabilities in critical areas of space technology. * **Boosting the European Space Industry:** The contract will provide a significant boost to the European space industry, creating jobs and fostering innovation. Airbus will likely subcontract work to other European companies, further strengthening the industry ecosystem. * **Renewed Focus on International Collaboration:** While the contract represents a shift away from collaboration with Russia on ExoMars, it also opens up opportunities for new international partnerships. ESA is actively seeking collaboration with other space agencies, such as NASA, to support the mission. This collaborative spirit is crucial for tackling the complex challenges of space exploration. * **Future of Mars Exploration:** The success of ExoMars will pave the way for future Mars exploration missions. The technologies and expertise developed for ExoMars will be invaluable for future missions to search for life on Mars, potentially including sample return missions. ### Related Trends: The Growing Interest in Mars and Commercial Space Exploration The ExoMars mission is taking place against a backdrop of growing global interest in Mars exploration. NASA's Perseverance rover is currently exploring Jezero Crater, a former lakebed, searching for signs of ancient life. China's Tianwen-1 mission has successfully landed the Zhurong rover on Mars, conducting scientific research. Furthermore, the commercial space sector is playing an increasingly important role in space exploration. Companies like SpaceX are developing new technologies for accessing space and are planning future missions to Mars. This combination of government-led and commercial initiatives is accelerating the pace of Mars exploration. The competition to explore Mars is not only about scientific discovery but also about technological leadership and national prestige. The Airbus contract, therefore, represents a significant step for Europe in maintaining its position as a leader in space exploration. In conclusion, Airbus **winning** the **contract** to build the **ExoMars** **lander** platform is a crucial development for the future of the mission and for European space exploration. The challenges are significant, but with its expertise and commitment, Airbus is well-positioned to deliver a successful lander that will enable the Rosalind Franklin rover to search for evidence of life on Mars. This mission holds the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the universe and our place within it.