The European Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars mission structural models, assembled at Thales Alenia Space’s Turin facilities, have been completed and transferred to Cannes for initial testing. This mission, currently scheduled for a 2028 launch aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, will carry Europe’s first rover, Rosalind Franklin, to Mars.
Structural models are crucial for verifying the mechanical performance of mission components. They allow engineers to simulate the intense stresses the system will endure during launch, module separations, and the critical phases of entry, descent, and landing on Mars.
The structure encompasses the entire flight configuration: the Carrier Module, responsible for the Earth-to-Mars transfer; the Entry, Descent, and Landing Module (EDLM); the landing platform, which will provide a stable base on the Martian surface; and the Rosalind Franklin rover itself.
The testing campaign will commence in Cannes in the coming days with acoustic and vibration tests, designed to replicate the stresses generated during launch. Subsequently, the models will return to Turin for further structural checks and separation tests.
The Rosalind Franklin Rover and the Search for Signs of Life
While the ExoMars program has faced delays and operational changes in recent years, it remains one of ESA’s most ambitious projects for studying Mars and the potential for past life.
A portion of the mission is already operational: since 2016, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) has been studying the Martian atmosphere and the presence of trace gases, while also serving as a radio relay for future surface missions. With ExoMars 2028, the program will enter a new phase with the arrival of the Rosalind Franklin rover.
The mission’s primary objective is to explore the Martian subsurface in search of preserved biological traces. Unlike current operational rovers on Mars, Rosalind Franklin can collect samples from depths of up to two meters, reaching layers less exposed to radiation and thus more favorable for preserving organic molecules.
The rover’s drill is one of the mission’s most complex elements and was developed with contributions from Leonardo. Collected samples will be analyzed onboard using a miniaturized laboratory designed to detect organic compounds and potential biosignatures.
The rover’s arrival on Mars is anticipated in 2030. However, before reaching the surface, the mission must navigate one of the most critical phases of Martian exploration: atmospheric entry and controlled landing. Mars has a very thin atmosphere, making spacecraft braking exceptionally challenging. Therefore, the descent system will utilize heat shields, parachutes, and braking engines to slow the rover for a safe landing.
The Role of European Industry in the Mission
The ExoMars mission involves numerous European companies coordinated by Thales Alenia Space, the prime contractor responsible for the integration and development of various mission systems. The company is particularly overseeing the Entry, Descent, and Landing Module, as well as the integration and verification of the entire system.
Alongside Thales Alenia Space, other key participants include Airbus Defence and Space (UK), developing the rover and landing platform; OHB, responsible for the Carrier Module; and ArianeGroup, involved in developing the thermal protection elements.
The testing activities aim to ensure that all these systems can function together seamlessly. During the tests, the structural models will be subjected to intense vibrations, mechanical shocks, and thermal simulations to replicate the environment they will encounter during the actual mission.
Following this phase, the Proto-Flight Model (PFM), the fully integrated flight model, will undergo a comprehensive series of verifications, including tests in a vacuum chamber and electromagnetic compatibility testing.
