U.S. and Europe Establish Stepping Stones for Mars Return Sample

A November 5 "statement of intent" between the European Space Agency and NASA spells out a joint effort to robotically explore Mars. Ultimately, the joint work would lead to hauling back to Earth by robotic means samples of Mars.

"Building on a long history of mutually beneficial cooperation in space science, the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) have expressed an interest in continuing henceforth jointly their robotic exploration of Mars," the statement explains.

That being the case, NASA and ESA have agreed to consider the establishment of a new joint initiative to define and implement their scientific, programmatic, and technological goals for the exploration of the red planet.

Initially focusing on 2016 and 2018, this initiative would span several launch opportunities with landers and orbiters conducting astrobiological, geological, geophysical, climatological, and other high-priority investigations "and aiming at returning samples from Mars in the mid-2020s," the statement explains.

The envisioned mission scenario includes the provision by ESA in 2016 of an Entry, Descent, and semi-soft Landing System (EDLS) technology demonstrator and a science/relay orbiter.

In 2018, an ExoMars rover would be equipped with drilling capability.

NASA's contribution in 2016 includes a trace gas mapping and imaging scientific payload for the orbiter and the launch and, in 2018, a rover, the EDLS, and the launch.

"On the basis of the cooperation described," notes the statement, "the ESA Director General and the NASA Administrator hereby request that the ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration and the NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate continue their technical analysis and pursue a more detailed definition of respective responsibilities."

According to the statement, NASA and ESA will establish legally binding agreements, as soon as feasible, to cover specific activities of this initiative, as needed.

The statement of intent, as provided to the Coalition, is signed by Charles Bolden, Jr., the Administrator of NASA and Jean-Jacques Dordain, Director General of the European Space Agency.

By Leonard David