ExoMars Rover Mission Officially Suspended As Europe Cuts Ties With Russia (gizmodo.com) 29
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Gizmodo: Today, the European Space Agency leadership took steps toward suspending the ExoMars mission, a joint project with Russian space agency Roscosmos. It's the latest scientific fallout from the Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has forced institutions collaborating with Russian entities to reevaluate their positions.
ExoMars a two-part mission: an orbiter, launched in 2016, that studies the chemistry of the Red Planet's atmosphere, and a Mars rover, named for scientist Rosalind Franklin and set to launch this year -- or at least, it was. The mission has been a long time coming; funding was granted 10 years ago this week, but technical delays and the covid-19 pandemic pushed the rover launch date back to fall 2022. That target was looking viable until the Russian invasion of Ukraine last month.
From the off, it was clear that ExoMars was in doubt. In a statement shortly after the invasion, the ESA said it was "fully implementing sanctions imposed on Russia by our Member States" and that "the sanctions and the wider context make a launch in 2022 very unlikely." The agency's most recent move codifies that unlikeliness. Meeting in Paris this week, the agency's ruling council unanimously mandated that the ESA Director General take steps to suspend cooperation with Roscosmos and authorized a study of how to get ExoMars off the ground without Roscosmos involvement. [...] In its newest statement, ESA announced that its director general would convene a meeting of the agency council in several weeks to submit proposals for how to proceed with ExoMars without Russian involvement.
ExoMars a two-part mission: an orbiter, launched in 2016, that studies the chemistry of the Red Planet's atmosphere, and a Mars rover, named for scientist Rosalind Franklin and set to launch this year -- or at least, it was. The mission has been a long time coming; funding was granted 10 years ago this week, but technical delays and the covid-19 pandemic pushed the rover launch date back to fall 2022. That target was looking viable until the Russian invasion of Ukraine last month.
From the off, it was clear that ExoMars was in doubt. In a statement shortly after the invasion, the ESA said it was "fully implementing sanctions imposed on Russia by our Member States" and that "the sanctions and the wider context make a launch in 2022 very unlikely." The agency's most recent move codifies that unlikeliness. Meeting in Paris this week, the agency's ruling council unanimously mandated that the ESA Director General take steps to suspend cooperation with Roscosmos and authorized a study of how to get ExoMars off the ground without Roscosmos involvement. [...] In its newest statement, ESA announced that its director general would convene a meeting of the agency council in several weeks to submit proposals for how to proceed with ExoMars without Russian involvement.
Re:Science and politics (Score:4, Insightful)
Collaboration with a proven unreliable and/or actively antagonistic partner is not a good idea, politics or not.
Re: Science and politics (Score:2)
Unfortunately some people can be highly intelligent in a narrow field yet utter naive morons when it comes to the real world. Whoever thought relying on russia to launch this even before Ukraine needs to be called out. Europe has had a perfectly good launcher in ariane for decades.
We sould welcome friends (Score:4, Insightful)
Europe, esp. Germany and France has a history of trying to appease Russia so this comes as no surprise.
I don't think that's a real problem.
The west has been trying to bring Russia "into the fold" of economic cooperation, which means essentially: give up your warlike ways, focus on creating wealth, and play nice with others. Truly they've been appeasing Russia a lot, but it was for a reason.
After WWII, Japan did exactly that: gave up their imperialistic dreams, focused on their economy, started creating wealth, and in about 25 years they were eating our lunch with Japanese made goods such as cars and electronics. Today they are a valued ally and a world leader in their own right.
The fact that it took them only 25 years is, to me, astounding.
Germany was split in half for a couple of decades, but that ended at around 1980, and 30 years later (2010) Germany is a world powerhouse and a leader in their own right. They have the largest economy in the EU and are creating wealth for their people at an astounding rate.
That it only took 20-30 years since the reunification is astounding.
Russia, on the other hand, clutches desperately to it's view of world conquest, hatred of the West (Russian leadership, not the people), general isolationism, and causing as much political mischief as possible worldwide. Gorbachev and Yeltsin started that process by enacting reforms, but everything stopped with the rise of Putin.
Russia could easily be the 3rd world superpower: they have the land, resources, and people for that, but by limiting their economy they remain a backwater, mostly agrarian society. The West, especially Germany and France, knows that, and wants to encourage Russia to change. Bringing them "into the fold" will benefit everyone, most of all the Russian people.
Or, to quote a famous TV show:
"You would do that? You would extend welcome to invaders?"
"No. But we would welcome friends.
Re: (Score:2)
Germany was split in half for a couple of decades, but that ended at around 1980, and 30 years later (2010) Germany is a world powerhouse and a leader in their own right. They have the largest economy in the EU and are creating wealth for their people at an astounding rate.
That it only took 20-30 years since the reunification is astounding.
Not to detract from your (well made) points, but West Germany was a world powerhouse and leader in its own right. It then unified with a East Germany which was. . . . . .not a world powerhouse. Then (as you say) Germany went from strength to strength.
One could say that Germany has recovered in two installments (both astounding).
Re: (Score:2)
"Truly they've been appeasing Russia a lot, but it was for a reason."
The writing has been on the wall for years. Only staggering naivity and economic self interest kept them - particularly germany - at it long after they should have stopped. Putin showed his true colours long ago.
US Broomstick? (Score:2)
Don't know what part Roscosmos was to play, but if it was a booster, maybe ESA could use one of the US "broomsticks" Dmitry Rogozin was raving about...
Re: (Score:2)
Roscosmos was to provide a Mars lander and some instruments. A broomstick won't help.
Re: (Score:2)
Was someone else going to have to pay for it like with the ISS? Nobody doubts Russia's ability to build rockets, only their ability to pay for it...
Russia is a drag, not a contributor (Score:1)
The collaboration with Russia was politically-motivated to begin with. "Engaging" the Evil Empire seemed like a good idea to the soft well-meaning Westerners — Europeans and Americans alike — but the actual benefits from such were few, if any.
Good riddance!
Re: (Score:1)
I was referring to the Eurotrash seeking the "multi-polar" world, and closer ties to Russia and China — because America is "evil".
What "few millions"?
Russkij, idi nahuj
Re: (Score:1)
I asked you for evidence, little bitch. Evidence of the number of victims of the West in Middle East exceeding "few millions" in recent memory... You replied — without providing the requested evidence. This alone means, you spoke from under your tail — and know it.
Russkij propagandon, idi nahuj.
Re: (Score:1)
Your own link [brown.edu] shows under one million total killed (by all sides) in over 20 years. Yet, you were claiming "few millions" of "just murdered" "by the West". I knew, you were full of shit, russki. And now you had to admit it too.
Idi nahuj — currently that's somewhere near the Chornobaivka airfield.
Evidently, Russia is a drag not only on space-exploration, but Slashdot-discussions too.
Re: (Score:1)
Yeah, see, if you can make Roskomnadzor ban Slashdot for extremism — as it did Instagram [theguardian.com] already. Laughing out loud :-)
Better headline... (Score:2)
Re: (Score:2)
Please... It's his Q-36 EXPLOSIVE Space Modulator!!!!
Re: (Score:2)
Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator, actually.
Re: (Score:2)
Thank you. You are absolutely correct!
yet.. after violent 2014 coup in Ukraine.. nothing (Score:1)
what a joke the internet coverage has been of current events.
Re: (Score:1)
Sadly true - if there had been a more robust response in 2014 to Russia's military coup where they seized Crimea then we might not be in this mess today.