Member states of the European Space Agency have called for the cancellation of the Earth Return Orbiter, a central component of the joint Mars Sample Return programme with NASA.
The Earth Return Orbiter was intended to capture Martian samples launched into orbit and transport them back to Earth. ESA had awarded Airbus Defence and Space a €491 million contract in October 2020 to develop the spacecraft.
However, the broader Mars Sample Return mission has faced mounting challenges. A 2023 independent NASA review concluded that the programme’s budget and timeline were “unrealistic.” In January 2026, the U.S. Senate voted to cut funding, effectively halting the mission.
Following that decision, Daniel Neuenschwander confirmed that “Mars Sample Return is currently not planned to be continued,” leaving the future of ESA’s contribution uncertain.
That uncertainty has now been clarified. Speaking after the 345th ESA Council meeting, Neuenschwander said ESA member states had “asked for the cancellation of the Earth Return Orbiter mission.”
He added that ESA has begun discussions with Airbus Defence and Space to manage the transition and salvage value from the project. “Maximise the return on investment” is a key objective, with certain technologies—such as the spacecraft’s electric propulsion system—potentially being reused in future missions.
The development marks a significant setback for international efforts to return samples from Mars, a long-standing goal in planetary exploration. The cancellation also reflects broader pressures on space budgets and the complexity of executing multi-agency flagship missions.
