European Space Agency suspends Mars exploration mission

The decision to suspend cooperation in the field of space exploration is the next step of the EU to punish Russia, after Moscow launched a military operation in Ukraine.

On March 17, the European Space Agency (ESA) confirmed indefinitely suspending plans to send the ExoMars probe to Mars. This is a Mars exploration plan coordinated by ESA and the Russian Space Agency (Roscosmos).

“We deeply regret the loss of life and tragic consequences of the operation in Ukraine. While acknowledging the impact on space exploration, the ESA’s decision is fully consistent with the commands sanctions imposed by Member States against Russia,” the ESA said in a statement.

ExoMars 360-degree rotatable rover on Mars exploration mission.

Dmitry Rogozin, the head of the Russian space agency Roscosmos, said on Telegram that “it is a very bitter decision” for all space enthusiasts to have to suspend the Mars exploration mission between Russia. – Europe. He added that Russia would “conduct this poll on its own”.

Due to orbiting around the Sun, scientists can only launch probes from Earth to Mars once every 2 years. The next time for ESA to launch a probe vehicle to Mars is 2024. Previously, the plan to send ExoMars to Mars was delayed once due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as the requirement to control spaceship survey.

In addition, the European Space Agency also said that all other missions using its Russian Soyuz rocket were also suspended. Specifically, two satellites for Europe’s Galileo GPS system, the Euclid space telescope launch mission and the European-Japanese EarthCARE observation satellite are currently suspended indefinitely.

Despite suspending the Mars mission, EAS said that the International Space Station (ISS) program continues to operate normally. The main purpose now is to continue the safe operation of the ISS, which includes maintaining the safety of astronauts. There are currently 4 NASA astronauts, 2 Russian cosmonauts and 1 European living and working on the ISS.

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