Aurora Program

Don't confuse with Aurora Project.

The Aurora Program is a long-term space program promoted by the European Space Agency (ESA) for the in-depth exploration of the Solar System, especially the Moon and Mars, in addition to the search for life outside Earth.

The Aurora Program is part of the European strategy to take Europe's first steps towards space and stimulate the continent's long-term technological development. However, Canada also collaborates as a cooperating state of ESA.

The program began in November 2001 with the relevant approval of European ministers. At the end of 2005, 12 states participated in it with a contribution of 14 billion euros. In alphabetical order: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland, with Italy being the main contributor to the program.

In 2023 there will be 22 countries that make up the program: Germany, Austria, Belgium, Spain, France, Italy, Netherlands, Portugal, United Kingdom, Sweden and Switzerland, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Luxembourg, Norway, Poland, Czech Republic and Romania.

The Aurora Program is structured into two main elements: a core program (Core Program) and exploration missions.

Core program

It encompasses the activities that would enable Europe for a future global exploration program. Included:

• Studies of scenarios and pathways of exploration in continuous interaction with the various actors involved. This would allow state governments to identify objectives, interests and priorities by identifying future missions.
• Mission-related technological development Mars Sample Return.
• Technological development related to exploration in general, including space flight and the preparation of a potential European participation in the exploration of the Moon.

Missions

The missions of the Aurora program are divided into three types: Missions that mark important scientific or technological milestones in themselves, or flagship missions (flagship); the arrow missions that are to serve as a demonstration of the developed technology, with lower cost and time; and human missions, considering those beyond low Earth orbit included in the program.

Flagship Missions

The flagship missions currently ^[when?] in development are ExoMars and Mars Sampre Return(MSR).

ExoMars

Mission established in collaboration with NASA and planned for 2016 and 2018. The main contractor for the mission is Thales Alenia Space Italy.

Objectives

The scientific objectives of the mission are:

• The search for past and present life in Mars, through in-situ analysis of soil samples.
• The characterization of the geochemical and aquatic environment.
• Identification and characterization of possible threats to human exploration.
• Improved knowledge of the Martian environment.

To achieve these objectives it will develop the following technologies:

• Input, descent and landing (EDL) heavy load on the Martian surface.
• Mobility on the Martian surface by means of a rover with several miles of reach.
• Access to the sub-surface, up to two meters deep, by means of a drill to collect samples.
• Automatic preparation and distribution of samples for analysis by scientific instruments.

Development phase

• phase A (definition): initiated in September 2003.
• Phase B1 (implementation): initiated in December 2006, following the adoption of the ESA Ministerial Council on 5 and 6 December 2006.
• phase B2 (industrial implantation): initiated in February 2008.

At the ministerial council of November 2008, as the amount necessary to finance the project was not reached, a reform phase was entered.

• phase B2X (extension of phase B2): April 2009.
• phases C and D (manufacturing and testing): it is expected to begin in 2011.

Components

It will consist of four modules, three from ESA and one from NASA, sent in two launches:

• First release:

• Orbiter led by ESA but includes scientific instruments from both agencies. Its objective is to study the Martian atmosphere.
• Input, descent and landing module. Its mission is to test developing ESA technology for possible future missions.

• Second release:

• ExoMar Rover Earth Vehicle (ESA). Its objectives are the search for evidence of past or present life and characterize the Martian subsurface.
• MAX-C Earth Vehicle (NASA). Its main objective is to encapsulate interesting samples to analyze on Earth in search of traces of life as preparation for a possible future mission of return of samples.

Communication with the ground by ground vehicles will be carried out through the ExoMars orbiter and the ESA space communications network.

Mars Sample Return

Mission to collect samples of Martian soil and bring them back to Earth. The goal is to characterize Martian astrobiology and its geochemical environment by studying these samples on Earth. This mission may be the world's first attempt to collect samples from Mars and bring them to Earth, and is expected to be carried out in collaboration with other agencies, such as NASA, the Canadian Space Agency (CSA) and the Japanese Exploration Agency Aerospace (JAXA).

In mid-2006, the international space agency forum IMDG (International Mars Exploration Working Group) requested the creation of a specific working group on sample return. This group met for the first time in September 2007 under the name iMARS (International Mars Architecture for the Return of Samples).

Since April 2005, this mission has been in phase A2 of study and development of key technologies. It is composed of five modules: an Earth-Mars transfer stage, an orbital module, a descent module, an ascent module and an Earth re-entry vehicle. The mission consists of two launches planned between 2018 and 2022.

Among the factors that will influence the design and development of the mission are:

• The place of descent.
• The size of the samples to return.
• The collection of the samples.
• Protection of samples.

Missions arrow

The proposed arrow missions are:

• Earth re-entry vehicle/capsule: mission to test reentry technology in the Earth's atmosphere using a small spacecraft in elliptical orbit on Earth. This mission would be of great use to the text of technology that would implement the mission Mars Sample Return.
• Mars Aerocaptura demonstrator: mission to validate air braking technologies (parachute) in Mars.

Human missions

The possible sending of humans to Mars around 2030 is in the preparatory phase, a mission that would culminate the program, and it is also being considered to send humans to the Moon again.

However, the main contributing countries of the European Space Agency (France, Germany and Italy) have questioned the manned part of the program, making it quite plausible that the entire Aurora Program is focused only on the robotic exploration of Mars.