The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to launch the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover on their most ambitious exploration mission yet to search for past and present signs of life on the Red Planet.
To searchfor evidence of past life on Mars, it will use its drill and various scientific instruments. Rosalind Franklin is also set to become the first rover to reach a depth of up to 2-meters (6.6-feet) deep beneath the surface, acquiring samples that have been protected from radiation and extreme temperatures. After using the drill to retrieve soils from ancient parts of Mars, the samples will be analyzed in situ with its onboard laboratory. A pair of scientific eyes are set atop the mast on the Panoramic Camera suite, known as PanCam. These cameras are going to be used to get a whole picture of the site with high resolution imaging.
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The mission will also serve to demonstrate key technologies that Europe needs to master for future planetary exploration missions. This includes the capability to land safely on a planet, to move autonomously on the surface, and to perform drilling and sample processing and analysis automatically. The rover will use novel driving techniques including wheel-walking to overcome difficult terrains, as well as autonomous navigation software,” said the ESA.
