NASA has resumed work to provide braking engines for ESA’s uncrewed Rosalind Franklin Mars rover, targeting a launch no earlier than 2028[1].

The partnership matters because it revives a Europe‑led mission that has faced years of technical and budget setbacks, and it deepens U.S.–European cooperation on planetary exploration[1].

ESA’s Rosalind Franklin rover, named after the pioneering scientist, was originally planned for an earlier launch but slipped repeatedly due to funding gaps and engineering challenges—issues that prompted NASA to step in and offer its proven descent‑engine technology[1].

The rover will lift off aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center, a launch configuration that leverages commercial heavy‑lift capability while keeping costs lower than a dedicated government launch vehicle[1].

NASA’s contribution of the braking engines will allow the lander to slow from interplanetary cruise speed to a safe touchdown velocity, a critical function that ESA has not been able to develop in‑house[2]. The collaboration also provides NASA engineers with valuable data for future Mars entry, descent and landing (EDL) systems.

Testing of the engines is slated to begin later this year, followed by integration with the lander in 2026. If the schedule holds, the combined spacecraft will undergo a series of orbital rehearsals before the 2028 launch window opens.

The revived timeline gives ESA confidence to proceed with scientific payload development, including instruments to study subsurface ice and atmospheric chemistry, while reaffirming the U.S. role as a reliable partner in deep‑space missions[2].

**What this means** The restart signals a turning point for Europe’s Mars ambitions, offering a realistic path to a successful landing and expanding the scientific return from the Red Planet. It also showcases a model of international collaboration where commercial launch services and shared engineering expertise reduce risk and cost for ambitious planetary missions.

“NASA will provide the braking engines for ESA’s lander.”

The renewed NASA‑ESA partnership restores momentum to a long‑delayed Mars rover, increasing the likelihood of a successful European landing and setting a precedent for future joint deep‑space projects that combine government expertise with commercial launch capability.