Today , the European Space Agency ( ESA ) and Russia ’s Roscosmos Space Corporation announced that the launching of the 2d ExoMars mission has been postponed for around two years until 2022 .
In a statement , Roscosmos Director General Dmitry Rogozin excuse the cause behind this late place - back for the mission .
“ We have made a difficult but well - weighed conclusion to postpone the launching to 2022 , ” Rogozin began . “ It is driven primarily by the pauperization to maximise the robustness of all ExoMars organization as well asforce majeurecircumstances related to aggravation of the epidemiologic berth in Europe which left our expert much no theory to proceed with change of location to partner industries . ”
The ExoMars Rover , namedRosalind Franklin , was due to launch in July this year and res publica on the Red Planet in mid - March , 2021 . However , the fresh agenda is now a launch between August and October 2022 .
At this point , all the flight hardware necessary for the launch has been integrated into the spacecraft , and the nine pawn on the rover itself recently passed concluding caloric and vacuity trial . fit with a Mandrillus leucophaeus to dig into the ground , it is hoped that the roamer will sift through soil samples forsigns of lifeand better empathise the story of water on the satellite .
" We want to make ourselves 100 percentage sure of a successful mission , ” ESA Director General Jan Wörnersaid , when commenting on the holdup . “ We can not appropriate ourselves any gross profit of error . More confirmation activity will ensure a safe trip-up and the good scientific results on Mars . ”
" I want to thank the teams in industry that have been working around the clock for virtually a year to complete meeting place and environmental testing of the whole spacecraft , ” Wörner continue . “ We are very much satisfied of the work that has give out into making a unequaled projection a reality and we have a solid body of knowledge to dispatch the remaining work as quickly as possible . "
The impact of thecoronavirus pandemichas also been felt by NASA , after one of its employee at the Ames Research Center , California , essay positive for coronavirus ( COVID-19 ) on March 8 .
“ We trust the exposure at the centre has been limited , but – out of an copiousness of carefulness , and in consultation with Ames ’ Center Director Eugene Tu , NASA Chief Health and Medical Officer Dr. J.D. Polk , and in accordance to way response programme – Ames Research Center is temporarily on mandatory telework status with qualified access to the heart until further notification , ” NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine wrote in astatement .
