ExoMars 2018 – Spaceflight Now

Departure of Europe’s first Mars rover delayed to 2020

May 2, 2016 Stephen Clark

Europe’s ExoMars rover will not be ready for launch in 2018, officials said Monday, forcing a two-year delay for the ambitious mission to drill into the Martian surface and search for the remnants of past life.

Oxia Planum tops list of landing sites for ExoMars rover

October 22, 2015 Stephen Clark

Scientists have selected Oxia Planum, a shallow basin connected to dried up channels carved by ancient water flows, as the prime landing site for Europe’s first Mars rover set for launch in 2018.

ESA hopes to commit to 2018 Mars rover launch by December

September 29, 2015 Stephen Clark

With the flagship-class ExoMars program nearing the finish line after a decade in development, European Space Agency officials want to complete negotiations with the mission’s industrial teams before committing to a 2018 launch date for a European-built Mars rover.