Aurora programme

{{Short description|ESA human spaceflight programme from 2001}} {{for multi|the rumored American spy plane|Aurora (aircraft)|other uses|Aurora (disambiguation)}} thumb|Artist's concept, used by ESA in materials about Aurora, that shows astronauts walking on Mars during a dust storm<ref name="esa.int">{{Cite web|url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Liftoff_for_Aurora_Europe_s_first_steps_to_Mars_the_Moon_and_beyond|title=Liftoff for Aurora: Europe's first steps to Mars, the Moon and beyond|website=www.esa.int}}</ref> 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.<ref name='Overview'> {{cite web | url = http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Human_Spaceflight/Exploration/The_European_Space_Exploration_Programme_Aurora| title = The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora | publisher = ESA}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.astrobio.net/topic/exploration/moon-to-mars/assessing-aurora/ |title=Assessing Aurora |work=Astrobiology Magazine |date=April 7, 2007 |access-date=2015-04-04 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225080838/https://www.astrobio.net/moon-to-mars/assessing-aurora/ |archive-date=2021-02-25}}</ref> The Aurora programme is no longer active. The Terrae Novae programme, established in 2010s, took over the Aurora's ExoMars programme as well as ESA's long-term deep-space human spaceflight ambitions.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The European Space Exploration Programme Aurora |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/The_European_Space_Exploration_Programme_Aurora |access-date=2025-03-03 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>

== Overview == 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.<ref name='Overview'/>

{{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<ref>{{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}}</ref>}}

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.<ref name="ReferenceA">{{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}}</ref> 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".<ref name="ReferenceA"/> One of the foundational principles of the Aurora program was recognising the interdependence of technology and exploration.<ref name="ReferenceA"/><ref name="esa.int"/>

==Missions== [[Image:ExoMars model at ILA 2006.jpg|thumb|Model of the ExoMars rover in 2006]] ===Flagship missions=== [[File:ExoMars 2016 Launch.jpg|thumb|ExoMars ''TGO'' launches in 2016]] [[File:MSR-Artist Concept.jpg|thumb|Artist's concept of a Mars sample-return mission]] 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 Roscosmos. It involved a Mars orbiter (ExoMars ''Trace Gas Orbiter''), a technology demonstrator descent module (''Schiaparelli'' lander), and the Rosalind Franklin rover.<ref> {{cite web | url = http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Aurora/SEM1NVZKQAD_0.html | title = ExoMars | publisher = ESA}}</ref>

The only mission launched under the Aurora programme was: * ExoMars ''Trace Gas Orbiter'' and ''Schiaparelli'', an uncrewed Mars orbiter and lander launched jointly with the Russian Roscosmos in 2016 on Proton rocket with Fregat upper stage. Flagship missions considered for the Aurora programme included: * ''Rosalind Franklin'' rover originally intended to be conducted jointly with Roscosmos. Cooperation with Russia was cancelled in 2022 after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. As of 2025, the launch is scheduled for 2028 under the Terrae Novae programme.<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Nicola |last2= |first2= |date=2025-03-29 |title=Europe’s first Mars rover will have UK-built lander |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/29/europe-first-mars-rover-rosalind-franklin-esa-airbus-lander |access-date=2025-11-24 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Terrae Novae: Europe's exploration vision |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Terrae_Novae_Europe_s_exploration_vision |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> * a robotic Mars Sample Return Mission by the mid-2020s * a human space mission to be launched in the mid-2030s

===Arrow missions=== Arrow missions were proposed technology demonstrator missions focused on developing a certain technology needed for the Flagship missions. No Arrow mision was launched. Approved Arrow missions, as of 30 January 2003 were:<ref>{{Cite web |title=Green light for Aurora Flagship missions |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/Green_light_for_Aurora_Flagship_missions |access-date=2025-11-24 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> *Earth re-entry vehicle/capsule, a step in the preparations for the Mars Sample Return mission *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

=== Proposed timeline === As of September 2005, the proposed Aurora roadmap was:<ref>{{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}}</ref> * 2014 – Human mission technologies demonstrator(s) to validate technologies for orbital assembly and docking, life support and human habitation * 2016 and 2020 – ExoMars rover for exobiological studies as well as study of the surface of Mars<ref>{{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}}</ref> * 2026 – Robotic mission to Mars * 2030s – First human mission to Mars, as a split mission.

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== *[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]

{{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