APP Delivers Key Components for ESA’s ExoMars Rosalind Franklin Mission

APP has successfully delivered two flight mortar tubes for the ESA ExoMars Rosalind Franklin mission, scheduled for launch in 2028. Developed and produced by APP in close collaboration with Vorticity and Thales Alenia Space, the parachute mortar system is a critical part of the lander’s descent module. It ensures the safe deployment of the parachute system during the spacecraft’s entry into the Mars atmosphere. Each mortar system consists of a mortar tube with plunger and a gas generator, both designed to meet the demanding performance and reliability standards of interplanetary missions. On Monday, October 27, APP delivered the two flight models to Thales Alenia Space. The components were meticulously cleaned and sterilized to comply with ESA’s planetary protection requirements, preventing any Earth-originating microorganisms from contaminating the Mars surface. This delivery marks an important milestone in APP’s contribution to Europe’s continued exploration of Mars – supporting the mission’s goal of uncovering signs of past or present life on the Red Planet