According to SpaceNews, the European Space Agency (ESA) is in talks with NASA to prevent Russia from participating in the ExoMars mission to Mars.
“It was a difficult decision,” said ESA Director General Josef Ashbacher, commenting on the agency’s decision to suspend its participation in the joint ExosMars mission with Roscosmos.
The publication writes that ESA and NASA are currently considering several options for replacing Russia’s contribution to ExoMars that will provide certain components, including a rocket, landing module and radioisotope energy sources. “I expect a decision from my member states by July,” Ashbacher said. Said.
The publication states that the exception is the International Space Station (ISS) program, in which the United States and Russia play an important role.
In March, ESA refused to cooperate with Roscosmos on the ExoMars joint Mars mission.
The launch of the ESA Mars mission and the second phase of Roscosmos is scheduled for September 2022. Russia provided the Proton-M launch vehicle, the Kazachok landing module, and the Rosalind Franklin rover scientific instruments for ExoMars-2022.
Source: GSM Info
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