Due to the geopolitical context, the sanctions of the European Union and the very strong deterioration of relations with Russia, the launch of the ExoMars mission, in which Russia is heavily involved, scheduled for September 2022 is made very unlikely. The European Space Agency should decide the fate of this mission and the alternatives available to it during its Council scheduled for March 15 and 16.
the way of the cross continues for the job ExoMars. After ExoMars 2018, ExoMars 2020 then ExoMarch 2022, will the European Space Agency be forced to rename its flagship program again? 2024, or even much later if the ESA takes a radical decision!
If the postponement of 2018 was explained by delays in European and Russian industrial activities, as well as in the deliveries relating to the scientific payload, that of 2020 was due to elements related to the probe such as the parachutessolar panels, Russian electronic equipment and the development of a software flight.
As the probe was due to take off in April to reach its launch site, the European Space Agency said on February 28 that due to sanctions imposed on Russia following the invasion of Ukraine, the launch in September 2022 seems very unlikely.
We deplore the tragic events taking place in Ukraine, a crisis which escalated dramatically into war in recent days. Many difficult decisions are now being taken at ESA in consideration of the sanctions implemented by the governments of our Member States.https://t.co/nOg8orZr1nhttps://t.co/5Mr6WexY9I
— Josef Aschbacher (@AschbacherJosef) February 28, 2022
The first large-scale cooperation between ESA and Roscosmos
To understand this statement, it is necessary to know that the ExoMars program is carried out in close collaboration with Russia which had in a way saved the program after the withdrawal of NASA. At the time, in 2012, the Russian Space Agency joined the program by providing the launchers Proton and scientific instruments for the 2016 and 2022 missions, as well as for the ExoMars 2022 rover, the Kazachok landing platform equipped with 13 scientific instruments which are not all Russian.
During its Council, scheduled for March 15 and 16, the European Space Agency should review the alternatives available to it as to the follow-up to be given to this program. If a two-year postponement is the least painful and least restrictive solution for the program, it seems unlikely to us that ESA will decide to “go it alone”. This is explained by the very high level of involvement and participation of the Russian Space Agency Roscosmos in the program. On March 16, we will be set on the fate of ExoMars.
Fortunately for ESA, all the elements of the probe are currently in the Turin factory of Thales Alenia Space. Imagine the diplomatic headache if ExoMars 2022 were in Russia!
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