European Rover Secures Launch for Mars Mission

The European Space Agency (ESA) worked with Russia to launch the ExoMars orbiter and rover. They used two Russian Proton rockets. ESA also added Russian science instruments to the missions. This helped Russian scientists because they could not send their own missions to Mars.

In 2016, Russia successfully launched the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. It is still working around Mars. It sends back data and helps NASA’s rovers, Curiosity and Perseverance, to communicate. A small European probe failed to land safely on Mars.

The launch of the ExoMars rover was delayed from 2018 to 2020. By 2020, the rover was nearly ready. But parachute tests failed, and the COVID-19 pandemic caused more delays.

In February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine. ESA ended its partnership with Russia for ExoMars. This meant they had to remove Russian instruments from the mission.

NASA will now launch the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars. They agreed to help ESA and provide needed technology. ESA will build the rover and manage the mission. The rover will explore Mars once it lands.

How much do you know?

What did the European Space Agency (ESA) work on with Russia?

Mars Rover only

ExoMars orbiter and rover

Lunar missions

Satellite technology

What type of rockets did ESA use for the ExoMars missions?

Falcon 9

Ariane 5

Proton rockets

Space Shuttle

What year was the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter launched?

2014

2016

2018

2020

What caused further delays in the ExoMars rover launch?

Technical issues only

Weather conditions

Parachute test failures and the COVID-19 pandemic

Funding problems

What happened in February 2022 that affected the ESA's partnership with Russia?

ESA launched a new mission

Russia invaded Ukraine

NASA took over the project

The project was canceled

Who will launch the Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars?

ESA

NASA

Russia

China

ESA added Russian science instruments to the ExoMars missions.

True False

The ExoMars rover was originally scheduled to launch in 2020.

True False

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is no longer functioning.

True False

ESA will manage the Rosalind Franklin rover mission.

True False

ESA continues to collaborate with Russia on ExoMars after 2022.

True False

A small European probe successfully landed on Mars.

True False

ESA worked with Russia to launch the ExoMars orbiter and rockets.

The launch of the ExoMars rover was delayed from 2018 to .

Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022.

The rover will explore Mars once it .

NASA agreed to help ESA and provide needed for the mission.

The small European probe failed to land safely on .

This question is required