Exomars: the giant parachute test beaten a record and revives the hope of landing on Mars

The scene takes place under the gray sky of Kiruna, in Sweden. Similarly, In early July. In addition, a test was led at an altitude of 29 kilometers from the Esrange space center where a stratospheric ball was deployed. Furthermore, Hanging to the ball. Nevertheless, an orange capsule represents what will one day be the Rover Rosalind Franklin and his landing: the Exomars mission supposed to leave for March by 2028.

Arriving at the right altitude, the capsule was released. Moreover, She fell into free fall for 20 seconds before two parachutes unfold. In addition, One, with a diameter of 15 exomars: giant parachute test beaten meters, the other, 35 meters. Furthermore, A record: never such large parachutes had been deployed in the earth’s atmosphere.

Exomars: giant parachute test beaten

More than three years in the closet

Everything could have been recovered on the ground shortly after. the capsule has not suffered any damage. A feat. because we are talking about extremely light components here, of the order of 40 grams per square meter, half less than a sheet of paper! Mission accomplished for the moment on the side of the European Space Agency (ESA). which has validated an important step to ensure the launch of this Exomars mission, many times repelled.

But let’s go back: exomars: giant parachute test beaten planned for a launch in 2020, Exomars had already passed some tests similar to that described here. In 2019 and 2020, everything had not worked properly, which had pushed the mission of two years. In 2021. finally, the right parachute system seems to have been found, even if the second was not perfectly deployed, which required some additional tests.

But early 2022, exomars: giant parachute test beaten everything collapsed. Russia invades Ukraine. while Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, was to provide the landing for the European rover, ESA decides to cut any collaboration with Moscow. The mission is suspended and the parachutes are put in the closet.

A revival mission. but always uncertain

Since then, the interest in the mission has been relaunched, even if the deadline is now at 2028. From now on, Thales Alenia Space is responsible for the landing, with a contract signed in April 2024 for 522 million euros. In April 2025. it was announced that Airbus Defense and Space will be in charge of the part linked to mechanical and thermal systems as well as propulsion. NASA supports to replace Roscosmos. Support still uncertain in view of the budgetary restrictions claimed by Donald Trump. but the Senate budget committee, too, says it wants to continue their involvement in this mission.

Anyway. exomars: giant parachute test beaten after being stored for years, the parachutes needed a little air and it was important to see if the architecture worked well and if the materials had not been too altered.

A crucial step. because, on Mars, you have to be satisfied with a much less dense atmosphere, barely 1% of terrestrial density, which implies being able to slow the module powered by 21,000 km/h sufficiently. The rover will have a thermal shield, retrofused triggered 20 seconds before touching the ground, and therefore of exomars: giant parachute test beaten the two parachutes.

With all this, the Rover Rosalind Franklin should be able to land without incident on March by 2030. He will thus be able to start his mission still as ambitious: finding life clues under the Martian surface. thanks to his drill designed to dig two meters deep.