Paris (ESA) Jan 18, 2022 The first simulation of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover driving off...
The first simulation of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover driving off its landing platform closed out an incredible year of preparations as the mission now marches with confidence towards a September launch.
ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover starts the year with months of successful maintenance and functional tests behind it.
"The rover is ready, and together with the recent drop test success for the parachutes, we are positive to be in time for the September launch date," says Pietro Baglioni, ESA's ExoMars rover team leader.
Following a final review in April, all the components of the spacecraft - rover, descent module, landing platform and carrier - will move to the launch site in Baikonur, Kazakhstan, to prepare for lift-off.
The twin of ESA's Rosalind Franklin rover has successfully left the platform during recent tests in a Mars terrain simulator at the ALTEC premises in Turin.
Amalia and Rosalind The ExoMars twin rover, until now dryly known as the Ground Test Model, has a new name: Amalia.
Engineers are using the Amalia rover to recreate different scenarios and help them take decisions that will keep Rosalind safe in the challenging environment of Mars.
Amalia has so far demonstrated drilling soil samples down to 1.7 metres and operate all the instruments while sending scientific data to the Rover Operations Control Centre, the operational hub that will orchestrate the roaming of the European-built rover on Mars.
In addition to its own science mission, the orbiter relays data from NASA's Perseverance rover.
"It's not long to go before the European rover can finally join the other martian drivers in 2023 with a top class scientific laboratory on board," says Pietro.