Aurora programme facts for kids
The Aurora programme was a big space project by the European Space Agency (ESA). It started in 2001. Its main goal was to plan and carry out long-term missions into our Solar System. These missions used both robotic spacecraft and human spaceflight. They looked for signs of life on other planets and moons. The Aurora programme finished its work in 2025.
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How Aurora Worked
Countries that joined the Aurora programme agreed to participate for five years at a time. After this, they could change how much they were involved. In its early days, Aurora planned two types of missions: "Flagship" missions and "Arrow" missions.
Flagship missions were the main exploration goals. Arrow missions were smaller tests to develop new technologies. For example, they tested ways for spacecraft to return to Earth. They also tested how to slow down a spacecraft using a planet's atmosphere.
A big dream for Aurora was to send humans into space. But for a long time, the focus was on robotic missions. These included the ExoMars mission and getting ready for a Mars sample return mission. A Mars sample return mission would bring pieces of Mars back to Earth.
The European Space Agency said: "The goal of the Aurora Programme is to create and carry out a long-term plan. This plan is for robotic and human exploration of places in our solar system. These places might hold clues about life."
Aurora was part of a bigger plan for space in Europe. This plan had three main ideas. First, to explore the solar system and the universe. Second, to encourage new technology. Third, to inspire young people in Europe to learn about science and technology. Aurora believed that new technology and exploration go hand-in-hand.
Important Missions
For its first ten years, the Aurora programme mainly focused on missions using robots.
Flagship Missions
The ESA called some of Aurora's most important missions "Flagship" missions. The first Flagship mission was ExoMars. This was a robotic mission to Mars done with the Russian space agency. It included a spacecraft that orbited Mars. It also had a test lander called Schiaparelli. And it had the Rosalind Franklin rover.
Other Flagship missions that Aurora considered were:
- The ExoMars mission. This included an uncrewed Mars orbiter and a lander. It launched in 2016 with the Russian space agency.
- The Rosalind Franklin rover. This rover was planned to launch in the mid-2020s. The original plan for cooperation with Russia changed in 2022. As of 2024, it is set to launch in 2028.
- A robotic Mars Sample Return Mission. This mission would bring samples from Mars back to Earth. It was planned for the mid-2020s.
- A mission to send humans into space. This was planned for the mid-2030s.
Arrow Missions (Technology Tests)
Arrow missions were smaller missions. They were designed to test new technologies. These technologies were needed for the bigger Flagship missions. Here are some Arrow missions approved by 2003:
- A test of an Earth re-entry vehicle/capsule. This was an important step for the Mars Sample Return mission. It showed how a spacecraft could safely return to Earth.
- A Mars aerocapture demonstrator. This mission tested how to use a planet's atmosphere to slow down a spacecraft. This helps it get into orbit without using too much fuel. This mission was later updated to test more technologies. These included "aerobraking/aerocapture, solar electric propulsion and soft landing." It was planned to launch in 2020.
Aurora's Future Plans (Timeline)
Here is a look at the Aurora programme's plans from 2005:
- 2014: Tests for human space missions. These tests would check technologies for building things in orbit. They would also test life support systems and places for humans to live in space.
- 2016 and 2020: The ExoMars rover missions to Mars. These missions aimed to study the surface of Mars. They also looked for signs of past or present life.
- 2026: Another robotic mission to Mars.
- 2030s: The first human mission to Mars. This would be a complex mission, possibly using a new type of rocket.
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