Falcon Heavy To Launch European Mars Rover Amid Budget Uncertainty
NASA has signed a $175.7 million launch contract with SpaceX for the Rosalind Franklin mission, which aims to launch a European Mars rover in late 2028. The mission has faced budget uncertainty, with the White House’s fiscal year 2027 budget proposal zeroing out funding for the project. However, Congress has provided funding support in prior cycles, and a group of senators has requested $9 billion for NASA science in FY2027. The contract was announced by Space Daily.