Airbus UK Secures $194M Contract for Rosalind Franklin Mars Rover Landing Platform

The European Space Agency's Mars mission progresses with Airbus UK developing a landing platform to ensure the rover's safe touchdown in 2030.

The Rosalind Franklin rover mission, led by ESA, is set to launch in 2028 and land on Mars in 2030, marking Europe's first rover exploration of the planet.
Airbus UK has been awarded a $194 million contract to design and build the landing platform, including propulsion systems, landing gear, and ramps for safe deployment.
The mission, delayed from 2022 due to the suspension of ESA's partnership with Russia, has been restructured with contributions from NASA and European partners.
The rover will drill two meters below Mars' surface to search for evidence of ancient microbial life and study the planet's climate history.
This international collaboration demonstrates advancements in planetary exploration technologies and highlights the resilience of global partnerships in space exploration.