Europe and Russia will explore the Red Planet together after the United States withdrew from this project early this year after the return of Mars Curiosity Rover.
European Space Agency member states have approved the agreement with the Russian Federal Space Agency to support in further exploring the Martian surface and atmosphere. The agreement is likely to be signed by the end of this year, BBC news said.
"We have other opportunities to consider cooperation-for Jupiter missions, for example. ESA has selected Juice, a large mission for Jupiter, and in Russia there is a plan for a Ganymede lander which is of interest to Europe," said Frederic Nordlund, the ESA's head of international relations, according to a report in BBC news.
ESA is considering options of extending their discoveries to moon as Russia is already working on two other projects.
"We are initiating discussions to see how we could co-operate on those missions. But this could extend to lunar robotics where we would like to see if we could join forces as well. Russia already has its Luna-Glob and Luna-Resurs missions, which are already being implemented, but we're considering other opportunities for this in other areas," he added.
British Science Minister David Willetts upset about having lost the partnership with NASA but glad that the Martian mission did not end and is taken over by Russia.
"It's a pity that we've lost the partnership with NASA but it's good that we've now got the Russians coming in instead, so we're optimistic that this is now on track," Willetts said, according to a report in The Register. "ESA has selected JUICE (the Jupiter Icy Moon Explorer)... and in Russia there is a plan for a Ganymede lander which is of interest to Europe."
The contributors to help with these missions to be carried out will be Germany and France continuing to be on top by funding $13 billion and $3.33 billion respectively and UK contributing $1.54 billion, which will be spent over the next five years, said a report in The Register.
