Polish space company Astronika has been selected to develop the communication antenna boom for the upcoming ExoMars mission. The company is already working on a critical component of the mission — the ramp that will allow the Rosalind Franklin rover to descend from the landing platform onto the surface of the Red Planet.
Scheduled for launch in 2028, the Rosalind Franklin Mission, also known as ExoMars, will mark the deployment of the first European rover on Mars. The mission has been in development for 15 years by the European Space Agency (ESA) in cooperation with the Russian space agency Roscosmos.
Following the removal of Russia from the mission over a year ago, one of its key components was reassigned to Astronika — the development of a robust and precise descent ramp for the Rosalind Franklin rover.
Photo: press materials of Astronika
Now, Astronika has been entrusted with a second critical task: the construction of an ultralight yet highly durable boom for the rover’s communication antenna, a vital component that will enable Mars-to-Earth data transmission.
Astronika previously developed a similar system for the JUICE spacecraft, which is currently en route to Jupiter.
“I’m proud that we’ve reached a level of recognition in the space industry where our boom systems receive inquiries and orders from across Europe and the United States,” said Marta Tokarz, Astronika’s Board Member for Business Development. “We’ve worked hard to ensure our products and services are associated with the highest quality and timely delivery.”
Her words are echoed by Maithri Galapitiya, a representative from Airbus, also working on the ExoMars mission:
“From the beginning of our collaboration, Astronika has demonstrated strong technical capabilities. Their team is young, committed, and highly motivated — which is clearly reflected in the quality of their work and the projects they deliver. We are very satisfied with this partnership, and I’m confident that Astronika’s dedication and performance will be recognized by the broader space community.”
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