Airbus UK wins a £150 million-contract to engineer landing platform that will safely deliver the first European rover on Mars. First British-built rover will explore the red planet in 2030 for signs of present and past life on Mars.
The contract, awarded by the European Space Agency and funded by the UK government through the UK Space Agency will support the development of an advanced system designed to land the Rosalind Franklin rover on Mars and facilitate its deployment on the planet’s surface.
The first UK-built rover’s mission is to explore the red planet and drill 2 metres down into the surface to hunt for signs of ancient life, such as fossilised microbes, in an effort to find out how our solar system came to be. Exploring Mars is crucial to further our knowledge in climate shifts and may help answer whether life exists beyond our home planet.
Named Rosalind Franklin after the British scientist whose work was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA, the rover will be the first European made rover to land on Mars.
The rover, entirely built in Stevenage by engineers from Airbus UK, is due to launch in 2028 with the support of NASA and land on Mars in 2030. It was ready to launch in 2022, until the European Space Agency cancelled its cooperation with Russia following the illegal invasion of Ukraine.
The UK Space Agency and international partners stepped up to replace Russian components in the mission, including the lander platform now under development in Stevenage and a key science instrument now led by Aberystwyth University.
"Getting the Rosalind Franklin rover onto the surface of Mars is a huge international challenge and the culmination of more than 20 years’ work. Rosalind Franklin will be the first Martian rover able to analyse samples from 2 metres below the surface in its search for past or present life. The mission will supercharge our space know-how in the UK, and will advance our collective understanding of our solar system," - said Kata Escott, Managing Director Airbus Defence and Space UK.
Under contract from aerospace company Thales Alenia Space (TAS), which is leading the overall ExoMars mission, Airbus teams in Stevenage will design the mechanical, thermal and propulsion systems necessary for the landing platform to ensure a safe touchdown for the rover in 2030.
This will include the landing structure, the large propulsion system used to provide the final braking thrust, and the landing gear to ensure the lander is stable on touchdown. The lander will feature 2 ramps that will be deployed on opposite sides to enable the rover to be driven onto the Martian surface using the least risky route.
The US was the last nation to send a rover to Mars in 2021, when NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover collected samples on the red planet.
Britain's proposed assisted dying law for terminally ill individuals may be delayed until 2029, following amendments to the legislation that extend the timeline for implementation and add new safeguards, with the bill still needing approval from both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and U.S. President Donald Trump held a brief call on Sunday to discuss progress on a new economic deal between the two countries, the prime minister's spokesperson said.
The British government announced on Saturday a £600 million investment aimed at addressing severe construction skills shortages that threaten its ambitious plan to build 1.5 million new homes by 2029 and drive economic growth.
The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI) has disclosed the full impact of UK sanctions on Russia, reporting that more than £25 billion in Russian assets have been frozen.
A new national forest stretching from the Cotswolds to the Mendips is set to be created, the UK government has announced. 20 million trees set to be planted across the West of England in the coming decades, creating at least 2,500 hectares of new woodland.
Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad urged the European Union to consider the political significance of its trade deal with Mercosur rather than focusing solely on economic factors.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that a court's decision to bar her from office for misuse of European funds ruled her out of the 2027 presidential election, adding she had no confidence in an appeal being heard before the vote.
On March 31, 2025, European diplomats met in Madrid to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the need for Russia to agree to a ceasefire.
President Trump confirmed he is serious about a potential third term, despite constitutional limits, saying it is “far too early” to decide. While U.S. presidents are restricted to two terms, Trump allies are exploring ways to challenge this rule ahead of the 2028 election.
Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) pilots, monitoring a Chinese navy warship as it navigated Australian waters, were alerted to a live-fire exercise via a civilian radio broadcast, defense officials revealed on Tuesday.
A powerful 7.7-magnitude earthquake struck Myanmar’s Sagaing region, followed by a 6.4-magnitude tremor, killing 2056 people and leaving 3,900 injured. The quake caused building collapses in Myanmar and Thailand, prompting emergency declarations and ongoing rescue efforts.
As the world shifts toward clean energy at an ever-accelerating pace, large economies are scrambling to secure reliable supply chains for rare earth minerals. These minerals, once seen as mere industrial components, have become a political tool in the global power struggle
Russian forces carried out a drone attack on Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, late Wednesday, injuring at least twenty one people and causing structural damage, according to Ukrainian officials.
Neuralink plans to implant its first Blindsight vision chip in a human by the end of the year, enabling vision for those born blind, according to Elon Musk. The device could eventually surpass natural vision, allowing users to see in infrared, ultraviolet, and radar ranges.
Researchers at Rice University have made a groundbreaking discovery in the field of strange metals—materials that defy conventional understanding of electricity and magnetism
The model aims to enhance Alibaba’s presence in the generative AI sector and is available as open-source.
OpenAI has asked the US government to permit AI companies to use copyrighted material for training to maintain America's leadership in AI development, as part of a proposal aligned with President Trump's upcoming "AI Action Plan."
Kim Jong Un watched tests of new AI drones and wants to increase the production
Brazilian Finance Minister Fernando Haddad urged the European Union to consider the political significance of its trade deal with Mercosur rather than focusing solely on economic factors.
French far-right leader Marine Le Pen said on Monday that a court's decision to bar her from office for misuse of European funds ruled her out of the 2027 presidential election, adding she had no confidence in an appeal being heard before the vote.
On March 31, 2025, European diplomats met in Madrid to discuss the ongoing war in Ukraine and the need for Russia to agree to a ceasefire.
President Trump confirmed he is serious about a potential third term, despite constitutional limits, saying it is “far too early” to decide. While U.S. presidents are restricted to two terms, Trump allies are exploring ways to challenge this rule ahead of the 2028 election.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment