What Mars rover is named after Rosalind Franklin?

The Mars rover named after Rosalind Franklin is the Rosalind Franklin rover. It is the planned European Space Agency rover for the ExoMars programme, previously known simply as the ExoMars rover.

The ESA announced the name in February 2019 after a public campaign to choose a name for the vehicle. The tribute recognizes Franklin’s contributions to understanding the molecular structures of DNA, RNA, viruses, coal, and graphite. Her scientific legacy therefore extends beyond the DNA double helix.

The rover is designed to search for evidence of past or present life on Mars. One of its defining features is a drill intended to collect samples from as deep as two metres below the Martian surface, where organic molecules may be better protected from radiation than they are at ground level.

It is easy to confuse this rover with NASA’s Opportunity, Curiosity, or Perseverance, but those are separate Mars missions. The Rosalind Franklin rover is an ESA-led vehicle and, as currently planned, is expected to launch in 2028.