The UK space sector has world-leading expertise in robotic space
exploration, with Airbus completing the build of the ‘Rosalind
Franklin’ rover last year.
This new contract will see UK scientists and engineers working on
the next Mars ‘Sample Fetch Rover’ as part of a joint NASA and
ESA campaign to collect samples from Mars and return them to
Earth.
Airbus in Stevenage is leading the Sample Fetch Rover project and
has already completed two preliminary studies, to develop
sophisticated algorithms to help the rover spot the samples and a
robotic arm to pick them up.
The plan is for the rover to launch in 2026 and land on Mars in
2028. Once there, it will collect up to 36 soil, rock and
atmospheric samples left behind by NASA’s 2020 Perseverance
rover, before transferring them to a Mars Ascent Vehicle to begin
their journey back to Earth for study.
Graham Turnock, Chief Executive of the UK Space Agency, said:
This is an exciting opportunity for the UK space sector to play
a leading role in humanity’s efforts to return the first
samples from Mars. Airbus has a rich heritage of designing
challenging space missions in the UK, from the Solar Orbiter
probe to the ‘Rosalind Franklin’ Mars rover.
The government has made clear its ambitions for space and we
are working hard to develop a new National Space Strategy to
bring long-term strategic and commercial benefits to the UK,
while strengthening our international partnerships through ESA
and beyond.
In November 2019, the UK committed £180 million to ESA’s global
exploration programme to ensure UK industry plays a leading role
in this mission to bring back the first samples from Mars and
supports NASA’s ambitions to return humans to the Moon.
