NASA delivered the first braking engines for the European Space Agency’s Rosalind Franklin Mars rover mission in June 2026. This hardware delivery, confirmed by ESA director Daniel Neuenschwander, marks a critical step toward a 2028 launch window after the mission’s original partnership with Russia collapsed in 2022.
How NASA’s braking engines salvage the 2028 launch
Photo: Tech Times
The delivery of the first braking engines transforms the Rosalind Franklin mission from what Tech Times describes as “geopolitical wreckage” into a credible trajectory. These engines are one of three primary commitments from NASA, which also include launch services and Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs).
The engineering challenge is steep. Mars has an atmosphere roughly one percent the density of Earth’s, making parachutes insufficient for a safe landing. While the rover will use a 15-metre first-stage parachute and a 35-metre second-stage parachute—the largest ever flown to Mars—the throttleable braking engines provided by NASA are required for the final seconds of descent. They must slow the platform from 45 metres per second to less than 3 metres per second to ensure a gentle touchdown.
According to European Spaceflight, four engines have already been delivered to Airbus Defence and Space in the UK for integration. A fifth “flight spare” engine is still expected.
The €522 million pivot from Russian hardware
Photo: European Spaceflight
The mission’s current structure is a result of a total break in cooperation between the ESA and Roscosmos in March 2022, following the invasion of Ukraine. This split left the rover without its designed Proton-M launch service and the Kazachok landing platform.
ESA responded with a rapid procurement shift. In April 2024, the agency awarded a €522 million contract to Thales Alenia Space to replace the bulk of the Russian-built hardware. This effort includes the creation of the Entry Descent and Landing Module (EDLM).
The industrial chain for the new lander involves several high-value contracts:
Thales Alenia Space: Awarded the primary €522 million contract for replacement hardware in April 2024.
Airbus: Awarded a £150 million contract in March 2025 to build the landing platform.
NASA: Formalized contributions via a Memorandum of Understanding in May 2024, including the SpaceX Falcon Heavy launch from Kennedy Space Center’s Launch Complex 39A.
Remaining risks and the RHU procurement gap
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While the engines and launch vehicle are confirmed, the Radioisotope Heater Units (RHUs) remain a point of cautious optimism. These units are mission-critical; they keep the rover’s electronics warm during the frigid Martian nights. Because Europe currently lacks its own flight-ready RHU capability, it relies on NASA for these components.
“The third and last topic is the procurement of RHUs. And there we are on a very good path. This is still something which needs to progress until launch, and we will have to take a number of decisions but I can underline that also here it looks good so far.”
Daniel Neuenschwander, ESA Director of Human and Robotic Exploration
To solve this long-term dependency, ESA is pursuing the ENDURE programme to develop a European-made RHU. A demonstrator unit produced by UK-led Perpetual Atomics is expected to fly on the landing platform, but the mission’s survival still hinges on the primary units supplied by the US.
The scientific stakes: Why a two-metre drill matters
The logistical turmoil underscores the value of the rover’s primary tool: a drill capable of reaching two metres below the Martian surface. This is not a mere engineering feat but a scientific necessity. The top half-metre of Martian regolith has been sterilized by ultraviolet radiation and oxidizing chemicals over geological timescales.
By accessing material at a two-metre depth, the Rosalind Franklin rover can search for organic molecules and biosignatures that have remained shielded from surface degradation, offering a more authentic look at the planet’s ancient life potential.
SpaceX milestones and the shifting GEO market
The mission’s reliance on a SpaceX Falcon Heavy mirrors a broader trend in launch reliability. As reported by Ars Technica, SpaceX has reached a milestone of 1,000 Merlin 1D engines. Because these engines are reusable, they have logged more than 6,000 flights, allowing for continuous reliability enhancements.
The Falcon 9 and Falcon Heavy continue to handle diverse payloads, though the market is shifting. While megaconstellations in low-Earth orbit (LEO) now dominate, geostationary Earth orbit (GEO) missions persist. A recent example is the launch of the SXM-11 satellite for SiriusXM, a 7-metric ton spacecraft manufactured by Lanteris Space Systems.
The business landscape surrounding these launches is also consolidating. Lanteris Space Systems, formerly branded as Maxar, was acquired by Texas-based Intuitive Machines in January 2026 for approximately $800 million.
Sophie is a tech innovator and acclaimed tech writer recognized by the Online News Association. She translates the fast-paced world of technology, AI, and digital trends into compelling stories for readers of all backgrounds.
