Seeking Life Beyond Earth: The ExoMars Mission

The European Space Agency's ExoMars programme asks one of humanity's most compelling questions: has life ever existed beyond Earth? Two complementary missions are working together to investigate Mars—one studying the planet from orbit, the other preparing to explore its surface. The UK Space Agency case study on ExoMars outlines Britain's substantial contribution to both missions through funding, engineering, research, and mission operations.

The programme comprises two distinct missions: the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), already circling Mars and conducting atmospheric science, and the Rosalind Franklin Rover, which will investigate the planet's surface to search for evidence of environments that may once have supported life—or may still do so today.

The Trace Gas Orbiter: Mars' Atmospheric Laboratory

The Trace Gas Orbiter began orbiting Mars in 2016 and commenced science operations in 2018. Since then, it has relayed more data than all other Mars orbiters combined, including 13 million square kilometres of multispectral imagery. The TGO uses four scientific instruments to detect and analyse trace gases in the Martian atmosphere, helping scientists understand the planet's chemistry and environmental history.

The orbiter was especially designed to search for methane, a gas detected by ESA's Mars Express mission in 2003. Methane is scientifically significant because, on Earth, it is linked to both biological and geological processes. On Mars, finding and understanding methane could help scientists determine whether the planet is still geologically active or whether it has ever had conditions associated with life.

While TGO has not yet recorded methane, it has made other important discoveries. The orbiter detected hydrogen chloride in Mars' atmosphere, providing scientists with new clues about the planet's chemistry and water cycle. More notably, TGO discovered water-ice at low latitudes—a finding with significant implications for future Mars exploration. Water is one of the most useful resources for future explorers: it could be converted into oxygen to breathe, fuel for journeys, and drinking water for astronauts. Finding accessible water-ice could make future missions to Mars more practical.

The TGO's CASSIS camera produces high-resolution imagery of the entire planet, enabling detailed views of the Martian surface and supporting safer landing and mission planning for future missions, including the Rosalind Franklin Rover.

The Rosalind Franklin Rover: Drilling for Evidence of Life

The Rosalind Franklin Rover will search Mars' surface for evidence of past or present life. As Europe's first rover to traverse Mars, it will have a distinctive capability: the ability to drill down to two metres into the Martian surface to obtain samples. Samples taken from below the surface are better protected from the harsh radiation that affects surface soil. The on-board laboratory will determine the sample's mineral and chemical content and composition, supporting the mission's search for evidence of past or present life.

The mission will land in the Oxia Planum region of Mars, an area with ancient, clay-rich rocks dating back approximately 3.9 billion years. Clay minerals typically form in the presence of water, making this landing site a promising location to search for evidence that Mars may once have had conditions suitable for life.

The Rosalind Franklin rover is named after the UK scientist whose work was central to understanding the structure of DNA, connecting the mission's search for life on Mars with a scientist whose discoveries transformed our understanding of life on Earth.

UK Investment and Industrial Leadership

The UK has invested approximately £490 million over the past 20 years in the ExoMars programme, supporting over 200 high-skilled jobs and 31 UK scientists as named mission instrument team members. A further 100 UK scientists are involved in the broader programme.

The Rosalind Franklin rover is being built by Airbus Defence and Space at its facility in Stevenage, UK. The rover houses a number of scientific instruments with considerable UK academic involvement:

  • PanCam: The panoramic camera system is UK-led. Scientists from University College London's Mullard Space Science Laboratory (MSSL) are working with the University of Aberystwyth, Birkbeck College, and the University of Leicester. PanCam will take detailed images of the surface to help scientists build 3D maps for drilling site selection.
  • Raman Laser Spectrometer: The University of Leicester, Bradford University, and the Science and Technology Facilities Council's Rutherford Appleton Laboratory (STFC RAL) are key partners in the development of this instrument, which can identify minerals and chemical compounds in Martian samples, including some biomarkers that may indicate past or present life.
  • Enfys: Aberystwyth University in Wales, along with MSSL at UCL, STFC RAL, and Qioptiq Ltd in St Asaph, Denbighshire, are developing the infrared spectrometer. Named Enfys—meaning 'Rainbow' in Welsh—this instrument will analyse the materials in rocks to help determine where the rover should drill for samples.

Launch and Landing Timeline

In early 2026, NASA approved the Rosalind Franklin Support and Augmentation project (ROSA), which will provide hardware and services for the mission. NASA also selected SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket to launch the rover from Kennedy Space Center.

The launch is currently due for late 2028, subsequently landing on Mars in 2030.

For the latest ExoMars developments, follow updates from the European Space Agency.