Aurora programme

Member states committed to participation in the Aurora programme for five-year periods, after which they can change their level of participation or pull out entirely. In the early years the Aurora programme planned for flagship missions and arrow missions for key technology demonstrations, such as Earth re-entry vehicle/capsule and Mars aerocapture demonstrator. Although human spaceflight has remained a long-term goal of the programme, with some basic technology development in this area, the thrust has been on implementation of the ExoMars mission and preparations for an international Mars sample return mission.

{{blockquote|The objective of the Aurora Programme is first to formulate and then to implement a European long-term plan for the robotic and human exploration of solar system bodies holding promise for traces of life. |ESA{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/The_European_Space_Exploration_Programme_Aurora|title=The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora|website=www.esa.int}}}}

The Aurora programme was a response to Europe's Strategy for space which was endorsed by European Union Council of Research and the ESA Council.{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Aurora_s_origins|title=Aurora's origins|website=www.esa.int}} Europe strategy for space had three main points including: "explore the solar system and the Universe", "stimulate new technology", and "inspire the young people of Europe to take a greater interest in science and technology". One of the foundational principles of the Aurora program was recognising the interdependence of technology and exploration.

Image:ExoMars model at ILA 2006.jpg]]

The first decade is planned to focus on robotic missions.

File:ExoMars 2016 Launch.jpg

ESA described some Aurora programme missions as "Flagship" missions. The first Flagship mission was ExoMars, a dual robotic mission to Mars made in cooperation with the Russian Federal Space Agency (Roskosmos). It will involved a Mars orbiter (ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter), a technology demonstrator descent module (Schiaparelli lander), and the Rosalind Franklin rover.

{{cite web | url = http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Aurora/SEM1NVZKQAD_0.html | title = ExoMars | publisher = ESA}}

Flagship missions considered for the Aurora programme included:

• ExoMars, consisting of an uncrewed Mars orbiter and lander launched jointly with the Russian Federal Space Agency in 2016 on Proton rocket with Fregat upper stage.
• Rosalind Franklin rover originally intended to be conducted jointly with the Russian Federal Space Agency in the mid- or late-2020s. Cooperation with Russia was cancelled in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of 2024, the launch is scheduled for 2028.{{Cite web |last=Foust |first=Jeff |date=2024-04-10 |title=ESA awards contract to Thales Alenia Space to restart ExoMars |url=https://spacenews.com/esa-awards-contract-to-thales-alenia-space-to-restart-exomars/ |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=SpaceNews |language=en-US}}
• a robotic Mars Sample Return Mission by the mid-2020s
• a human space mission to be launched in the mid-2030s

{{Update|date=November 2010}}

Arrow missions were technology demonstrator missions focused on developing a certain technology needed for the Flagship missions. Approved Arrow missions, as of 30 January 2003:

• Earth re-entry vehicle/capsule, a step in the preparations for the Mars Sample Return mission.{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}
• Mars aerocapture demonstrator, to further develop the technologies for using a planet's atmosphere to brake into orbit. This particular mission seems to have been revised into an expanded mission to demonstrate "aerobraking/aerocapture, solar electric propulsion and soft landing" to be launched in 2020. {{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}

{{see also|Schiaparelli EDM lander}}

{{Update|date=November 2010}}

The proposed Aurora roadmap, as of 30 September 2005:{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMXZY274OD_index_0.html |title=Aurora's roadmap to Mars / Exploration / Human Spaceflight / Our Activities / ESA |publisher=European Space Agency |date=2003-12-19 |access-date=2013-04-09}}

• 2014 – Human mission technologies demonstrator(s) to validate technologies for orbital assembly and docking, life support and human habitation{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}
• 2016 and 2020 – ExoMars rover to Mars. The scientific objectives include exobiological studies as well as study of the surface of Mars.{{cite web|title=Case study ExoMars|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/case-studies/exomars|publisher=UK Government Space Agency|access-date=17 June 2015|date=3 July 2014}}
• 2026 – Robotic mission to Mars{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}
• 2030s – First human mission to Mars, as a split mission. The proposed Ariane M rocket may be used for this landing.{{Citation needed|date=April 2015}}

• Astrobiology
• Constellation program
• Space exploration
• Human spaceflight
• Mars sample return mission

{{reflist}}

• [https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/The_European_Space_Exploration_Programme_Aurora Aurora site at ESA]
• [http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Aurora/SEMHENVT0PE_0.html Aurora Industry Day 2006]
• [http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/Aurora/Aurora625_2.pdf Brochure of the Aurora Programme]
• [http://www.esa.int/esapub/bulletin/bulletin126/bul126b_messina.pdf Another publication about Aurora]
• [http://esamultimedia.esa.int/docs/aurora.pdf Aurora Roadmap poster]

{{ESA projects}}

{{Astrobiology}}

{{Human missions to Mars}}

{{Politics of outer space}}

{{Use British English|date=January 2014}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Aurora Programme}}

Category:Astrobiology

Category:European Space Agency programmes

Category:Human missions to Mars

Category:Human spaceflight programs

Category:Proposed spacecraft

Category:Space policy of the European Union

Category:2001 establishments in Europe