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Approval of the ExoMars programme paves the way for two Mars exploration missions

ESA's ExoMars received the go-ahead for implementation from ESA Council. This decision paves the way for two Mars exploration missions, in cooperation with NASA, in 2016 and 2018.

The ExoMars programme will investigate the martian environment, particularly astrobiological issues, and will develop and demonstrate new technologies for planetary exploration, with the long-term view of a future mars sample return mission in the 2020s.

Two missions are planned as part of the ExoMars programme: one consisting of an orbiter and an entry, descent and landing demonstrator (to be launched in 2016) and the other consisting of two rovers (to be launched in 2018).

ESA's Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, Professor David Southwood, said: "This marks an important moment for Europe in its steps towards space exploration on a world scale. We have been to the planets before, sure, but now we have a plan for exploration to build our technical capability and explore Mars in a long-term partnership."

Thirteen of ESA's Member States are participating in ExoMars: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, plus Canada.

(Article first appeared in the February issue of the ESA bulletin)