Europe’s first Mars rover known as the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin, is one step closer to its mission after a key instrument, the infrared spectrometer Enfys, was shipped from Aberystwyth University in Wales to Italy for testing. Enfys will be able to measure organic compounds and biomarkers beneath the surface of Mars, which could indicate the existence of past life.
Drilling into the Unknown
The Rosalind Franklin Rover will have the capability to drill as far as two metres below the surface of Mars. In close collaboration with the PanCam camera system, led by the Mullard Space Science Laboratory at UCL, mineral targets will be identified and preferred drilling sites selected.
Dr Helen Miles and Dr Matt Gunn are two researchers who are part of the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Rover mission.
Testing on Earth Before Mars
The initial installation of Enfys will be on the rover’s companion (a Ground Test Model) at the Earth twin, the Aerospace Logistics Technology Engineering Company in Turin, Italy. This model is situated in a Mars landscape simulator, allowing scientists to study scenarios extensively, while the real rover remains in a sterile environment.
Collaboration and Funding
Enfys’ development and testing are led by Aberystwyth University, with support from MSSL, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, and Qioptiq Ltd. In 2022, following the cancellation of cooperation with Russia’s Roscosmos, the UK assumed greater responsibility for the mission.
The UK Space Agency provided an additional £10.7 million to support the enhanced development of Enfys.
Looking Ahead
As Enfys undergoes final tests in Italy, the scientific community hopes to gain important insights into the geological and biological history of Mars, marking a key step in European planetary exploration.
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