Roscosmos and ESA Outline Plan for Mutual Return of ExoMars-2022 Equipment
A recent collaboration between the Russian space agency Roscosmos and the European Space Agency outlines a mutual plan to repatriate equipment associated with the canceled ExoMars-2022 mission. The arrangement comes after discussions reported by DEA News and reflects ongoing efforts to manage legacy assets from the project in a cooperative framework between Russia and Europe.
The two space organizations have laid out a structured approach for returning gear from both sides. The plan emphasizes safe transfer procedures, coordinated logistics, and careful documentation to ensure that each party can recover its hardware without disrupting other space research activities. This stage marks a practical step in sustaining scientific momentum despite the mission’s cancellation and demonstrates a shared interest in preserving and reusing valuable research infrastructure.
At the Thales Alenia Space facility in Turin, technicians and mission experts from Russia and Europe began preparations for the recovery of the Russian landing module along with its landing platform. This work involves precise handling, secure transport arrangements, and adherence to international space safety and export-control guidelines. The collaboration highlights a spirit of continued cooperation on high-stakes aerospace engineering, even after strategic program changes.
Beyond hardware logistics, Roscosmos and the Russian Academy of Sciences are exploring options to advance Mars research drawing on the foundational work conducted during the ExoMars program. The aim is to translate prior scientific insights into future experiments and missions, ensuring that the knowledge base accumulated over the ExoMars era can inform new projects and partnerships in planetary science. This forward-looking approach keeps international Mars exploration initiatives alive and aligned with evolving research priorities.
Last year, Josef Aschbacher, who led the European Space Agency, signaled an end to formal cooperation with Roskosmos on the ExoMars program. The decision followed geopolitical tensions surrounding the conflict in Ukraine and the sanctions that accompanied it. Despite this shift, the current plan for mutual return demonstrates a pragmatic path to manage existing assets and to preserve the potential for future dialogue on space research between European and Russian institutions. The situation underscores how scientific collaboration can adapt in the face of political challenges while continuing to serve shared discovery goals.