NASA approves Rosalind Franklin Mars rover mission; Europe advances its first Mars mission with NASA support

NASA has approved the Rosalind Franklin mission, which will analyze Martian soil in search of signs of life. The decision advances a planned international effort to explore Mars for potential biosignatures.

The European Space Agency is pressing ahead with its first Mars mission, with a launch planned for 2028. The project, which was originally developed with Russia, will instead proceed with NASA collaboration. NASA has announced it is providing systems support for the Rosalind Franklin rover, including the rover’s onboard hardware, the propulsion system for the landing platform, and other components involved in the mission.