SpaceX to send life-hunting rover to Mars in 2028

Elon Musk's SpaceX has been given the green light to launch the Rosalind Franklin rover on a mission to Mars. The ambitious project, which will see the rover travel to the Red Planet aboard a Falcon Heavy rocket, is slated for late 2028. NASA recently approved the implementation phase of this mission, marking a major milestone in one of the most ambitious Mars explorations of this decade.

The Rosalind Franklin mission is a joint effort between NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA). Under this collaboration, NASA will provide essential support elements for mission success. These include launch services, braking engines for the lander platform, and radioisotope heater units to keep the rover's internal systems warm in Mars's extreme cold. The US space agency will also contribute advanced electronics and a sophisticated mass spectrometer as part of its contribution to this international project.