# Rosalind Franklin

> planned robotic Mars rover

**Wikidata**: [Q3445540](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q3445540)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosalind_Franklin_(rover))  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/rosalind-franklin-q3445540

## Summary
Rosalind Franklin is a planned robotic Mars rover developed by the European Space Agency as part of the ExoMars program. Named after the pioneering scientist Rosalind Franklin, this rover is expected to launch in 2028 to search for signs of past life on Mars.

## Key Facts
- Mass: 310 kilograms
- Planned launch date: 2028
- Official name: Rosalind Franklin
- Part of: ExoMars program
- Manufacturer: Astrium, Airbus Defence and Space
- Instance of: Mars rover, autonomous robot
- Carries scientific instruments including PanCam, Raman spectrometer, and Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer

## FAQs
### Q: When will the Rosalind Franklin rover be launched?
A: The Rosalind Franklin rover is scheduled for launch in 2028, following delays from earlier planning dates.

### Q: What scientific instruments does the Rosalind Franklin rover carry?
A: The rover is equipped with multiple scientific instruments including PanCam, Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars, Close-Up Imager, Water Ice Subsurface Deposit Observation on Mars, ADRON-RM, Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies, MicrOmega-IR, Raman spectrometer, and Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer.

### Q: Why was the rover named after Rosalind Franklin?
A: The rover was named after Rosalind Franklin, the British scientist whose X-ray diffraction images of DNA contributed to the discovery of DNA's structure. The name was officially announced by ESA on March 4, 2019.

### Q: What is the primary mission objective of the Rosalind Franklin rover?
A: The primary mission is to search for signs of past life on Mars by analyzing samples, particularly from the subsurface where organic molecules might have been preserved from surface radiation.

## Why It Matters
The Rosalind Franklin rover represents a significant advancement in Mars exploration capabilities, with its ability to access material that might contain preserved organic molecules from beneath the Martian surface. By potentially avoiding the radiation and oxidizing agents that destroy organic material on the surface, it stands to increase the chances of finding evidence of past life on Mars. The rover is part of the ExoMars program, which aims to develop key technologies for future missions while seeking definitive answers to whether life ever existed beyond Earth. Its comprehensive scientific payload is designed to analyze chemical composition in unprecedented detail, potentially providing groundbreaking insights into Mars' habitability history.

## Notable For
- Its capability to drill into the Martian subsurface, searching for organic material protected from surface radiation
- Comprehensive scientific payload with nine instruments specifically designed to detect biosignatures
- Named after Rosalind Franklin, honoring the scientist whose work was crucial to understanding DNA structure
- Part of the European-Russian ExoMars program, representing international cooperation in space exploration
- Expected to operate in harsh Martian conditions with advanced drilling and sampling technologies

## Body
### Mission Overview
The Rosalind Franklin rover is the second Mars rover mission in the ExoMars program, following the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli EDM lander. The rover is designed to search for signs of past life on Mars by analyzing samples from the subsurface.

### Technical Specifications
- Mass: 310 kilograms
- Manufacturer: Astrium, Airbus Defence and Space
- Planned launch date: 2028
- Expected landing site: Oxia Planum
- NAIF ID: -174
- Freebase ID: /m/0j7j5b1

### Scientific Instruments
The rover carries a comprehensive suite of scientific instruments:
- PanCam (Panoramic Camera) for high-resolution imaging
- Infrared Spectrometer for ExoMars (ISEM) for remote sensing
- Close-Up Imager (CLUPI) for detailed surface imaging
- Water Ice Subsurface Deposit Observation on Mars (WISDOM) for radar sounding
- ADRON-RM (Active Neutron Detector) for measuring hydrogen content
- Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies (MOMA) for detecting organic molecules
- MicrOmega-IR for microscopic and hyperspectral analysis
- Raman spectrometer for mineralogical analysis
- Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer for detecting organic compounds

### Naming and Significance
The rover was officially named Rosalind Franklin on March 4, 2019, honoring the British chemist whose X-ray diffraction images of DNA were crucial to determining the DNA structure. The naming reflects the rover's mission to seek evidence of life through scientific analysis.

### Mission Goals
The primary mission is to search for biosignatures in the Martian subsurface, where organic molecules may have been preserved from surface radiation. The rover will drill into the regolith and analyze the samples for organic compounds, potentially providing evidence of past life on Mars.

## Schema Markup
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## References

1. [Source](https://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/ESA_s_Mars_rover_has_a_name_Rosalind_Franklin)
2. [Source](https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-51844030)
3. [Source](https://spacenews.com/exomars-official-says-launch-unlikely-before-2028/)