Aurora programme

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This space art, titled The Next Stop, was selected by the ESA when discussing its Aurora program. Mars-human-exploration-art-astronauts-vehicle-dust-full.jpg
This space art, titled The Next Stop, was selected by the ESA when discussing its Aurora program.

The Aurora programme (sometimes called Aurora Exploration Programme, or simply Exploration Programme) was a human spaceflight programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) established in 2001. The objective was to formulate and then to implement a European long-term plan for exploration of the Solar System using robotic spacecraft and human spaceflight to investigate bodies holding promise for traces of life beyond the Earth. [2] [3] In 2025, the Aurora programme was no longer active. [4]

Contents

Overview

Member states commited 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. [2]

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 [5]

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. [6] 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". [6] One of the foundational principles of the Aurora program was recognising the interdependence of technology and exploration. [6] [1]

Missions

ExoMars rover model, renamed Rosalind Franklin rover ExoMars model at ILA 2006.jpg
ExoMars rover model, renamed Rosalind Franklin rover

The first decade is planned to focus on robotic missions.

Flagship missions

ExoMars launches in 2016 ExoMars 2016 Launch.jpg
ExoMars launches in 2016

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. [7]

Flagship missions considered for the Aurora programme included:

Arrow missions

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:

Timeline

The proposed Aurora roadmap, as of 30 September 2005: [9]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Liftoff for Aurora: Europe's first steps to Mars, the Moon and beyond". www.esa.int.
  2. 1 2 "The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora". ESA.
  3. ↑ "Assessing Aurora". Astrobiology Magazine. April 7, 2007. Archived from the original on 2021-02-25. Retrieved 2015-04-04.
  4. ↑ "The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora". www.esa.int. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  5. ↑ "The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora". www.esa.int.
  6. 1 2 3 "Aurora's origins". www.esa.int.
  7. ↑ "ExoMars". ESA.
  8. ↑ Foust, Jeff (2024-04-10). "ESA awards contract to Thales Alenia Space to restart ExoMars". SpaceNews. Retrieved 2025-03-03.
  9. ↑ "Aurora's roadmap to Mars / Exploration / Human Spaceflight / Our Activities / ESA". European Space Agency. 2003-12-19. Retrieved 2013-04-09.
  10. ↑ "Case study ExoMars". UK Government Space Agency. 3 July 2014. Retrieved 17 June 2015.

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