Mars Rover Unlikely To Launch This Year Due To Russia Sanctions

(Paris)  --  It is unlikely the next Mars rover will launch this year due to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  Two NASA rovers and a Chinese rover are currently on Mars, with the European Space Agency's rover set to launch later this year.  ESA said the launch is now very unlikely this year, as it is a joint project between them and the Russian space agency Roscosmos.  Technical and pandemic-related issues have already pushed the launch back, as it was originally set for 2020.