The conflict between Russia and Ukraine already affects the European mission to search for life on Mars

Sanctions on Russia over the Ukraine invasion make a 2022 launch of ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover to Mars within the joint Exomars program with Roscosmos “highly unlikely.”

This is stated in an ESA statement on cooperation with Russia after a meeting with the Member States on February 28.

ExoMars 2022 includes the Roscosmos Kazachok surface platform alongside the European rover. , but the COVID 19 pandemic forced the joint mission to be delayed to September of this year, with the arrival on the Red Planet scheduled for June 2023. The fundamental objective of the mission is , both past and present.

“We deplore the human casualties and the tragic consequences of the war in Ukraine. We are giving absolute priority to making the right decisions, not only for the good of our workforce involved in the programs, but in full respect of our European values, which have always given , explains the ESA in its statement.

The ESA recalls that it is an intergovernmental organization governed by its 22 member states and that it has built a solid network of international cooperation in recent decades, “serving the European and global space community through its successful programs.”

“We are fully implementing the sanctions imposed on Russia by our member states. We are evaluating the consequences of each of our ongoing programs carried out in and we align our decisions with the decisions of our Member States in close coordination with industrial and international partners (particularly with NASA on the International Space Station)”, explain the statement.

With regard to the Soyuz launch campaign from the European spaceport in Kourou, ESA “takes note” of Roscosmos’ decision to withdraw its personnel from this base in French Guiana. “Accordingly, we will assess for each European institutional payload under our responsibility the appropriate launch service based on the launch systems currently in operation and the upcoming Vega C and Ariane 6 launchers.”it states.

“Regarding the continuation of the ExoMars program, the sanctions, and the broader context . The ESA Director General will analyze all options and prepare a formal decision on the way forward for ESA Member States.” Add.

On February 26, the head of Roscosmos, Dimitri Rogozin, announced that, in response to the sanctions of the European Union, “Roscosmos stops cooperation with European partners for the organization of space launches from the Kourou Cosmodrome and withdraws its technical personnel, including the launch team, from French Guiana.” There are 87 Russian citizens in the space center, according to Roscosmos, who are preparing to leave the country.

Rogozin also assured that it was impossible to continue collaborating with the US in the project of sending a probe, Venera, to the planet Venus. “US participation in the project is impossible due to sanctions,” he said on Twitter.

Regarding the International Space Station, in which Russia is a qualified partner with its own segment in the orbital complex and permanent crew members, Rogozin even wondered in another tweet alluding to NASA: “If they block cooperation with us, who will save the International Space Station (ISS) from u”.

Experts see such threats as part of fiery political rhetoric, given the mutual trust of the two sides for the safety of their personnel. But they could speed up a long-awaited divorce.

The ISS, a cooperation between the United States, Canada, Japan, Europe and Russia, is divided into two sections: the American orbital segment and the Russian orbital segment, each of which was built and is managed by its country.

Currently, about 250 miles (400 kilometers) above sea level, while the US segment is responsible for electricity and life support systems.

Agencies