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The ExoMars (Exobiology on Mars) is an astrobiology programme under the European Space Agency (ESA) and Russian space agency Roscosmos, of which the UK's participants is not affected by Brexit, as it is not an EU organisation. The goals of ExoMars are to search for signs of past life on Mars, investigate the Martian water and geochemical environment varies, investigate atmospheric trace gases and their sources and by doing so demonstrate the technologies for a future Mars sample-return mission. The second stage of the mission programme is planned to launch in July 2020, when the Kazachok lander will deliver the Rosalind Franklin rover on the surface, supporting a science mission that is expected to last into 2022 or beyond.

The UK Space Agency is the second-largest contributor to the mission, having invested €287million (£240million) also £14million on building the main component in Stevenage. Science Minister Christ Skidmore said in February: “It is a tremendously fitting tribute that the rover has been named after Rosalind Franklin as she helped us understand life on Earth and now her namesake will do the same on Mars. “Just as Rosalind Franklin overcame many obstacles during her career, I hope ‘Rosalind the rover’ will successfully persevere in this exciting adventure, inspiring generations of female scientists and engineers to come. “This is a big moment for British science and through our modern Industrial Strategy we are embracing this moment as part of our ambition to be the world’s most innovative economy, creating opportunities for business through science.”

Britain builds a quarter of the world's big telecommunications satellites and the ESA bases its tele

Rosalind Franklin was built in Stevenage

This is a big moment for British science Chris Skidmore

“Rosalind Franklin” was chosen by a panel of experts from a shortlist submitted by the public, following a naming competition opened in July last year in which nearly 36,000 people responded. The British chemist’s work was central to the understanding of the molecular structures of DNA in the Fifties. Dr Alice Bunn, International Director, UK Space Agency said: “Rosalind Franklin is one of science’s most influential women, and her part in the discovery of the structure of DNA was truly ground-breaking. “It’s fitting that the robot bearing her name will search for the building blocks of life on Mars, as she did so on Earth through her work on DNA.” READ MORE: UK will be ‘main contributor' in European project with £1.87bn investment post-Brexit

Chris Skidmore was pleased by the investment

Yesterday it was revealed that the ESA has secured its biggest budget increase in 25 years with a commitment of €14.4billion (£12.5billion) for a broad package of international projects over the next five years from the 22 member states. The UK is set to remain a “main contributor” to this, with the UK Space Agency announcing it will invest £374million-a-year into the ESA fund. After securing the deal, it was revealed funding will also support building the Lunar Gateway – a new space station to orbit the Moon, returning the first samples of Mars, new satellites to help understand climate change, an early warning system for solar storms and research into 5G and space junk removal. The UK is one of the founding members of ESA, an inter-governmental organisation established in 1975 to promote cooperation in space research, technology and applications development. DONT MISS

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Legendary astronaut Tim Peake and the rover

Mars is top of ESA's priorities list