---
title: Keeping the Mars Sample Return Program alive.
description: NASA expands work with ESA on the ExoMars mission. Aerospacelab breaks ground on a megafactory. Spain appoints a new space agency head. And more.
---

[T-Minus, the Only Daily Space Intelligence Podcast | N2K Space ](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus)

# [Keeping the Mars Sample Return Program alive.](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/280)

 Written by [Maria Varmazis](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/author/maria-varmazis) | May 17, 2024 8:04:32 PM

Summary

NASA and ESA signed an agreement to expand NASA’s work on the ExoMars Rosalind Franklin rover. Aerospacelab has broken ground on its new manufacturing facility. Spain’s Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities has appointed Juan Carlos Cortés Pulido as the first director of the Spanish Space Agency, and more.

Our [2024 N2K CyberWire Audience Survey](https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/2024_n2k-cw-audience_podcast) is underway, make your voice heard and get in the running for a $100 Amazon gift card. Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Remember to leave us a 5-star rating and review in your favorite podcast app.

Miss an episode? Sign-up for our weekly intelligence roundup, [*Signals and Space*](https://space.n2k.com/newsletters/signals-and-space)*, *and you’ll never miss a beat*. *And be sure to follow T-Minus on [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/n2k-space/) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/n2kspace/).

[View full post](https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/280)

```json
{
  "@context" : "http://schema.org",
  "@type" : "BlogPosting",
  "author" : {
    "@type" : "Person",
    "name" : "Maria Varmazis"
  },
  "dateModified" : "2024-05-21T17:50:13.922Z",
  "datePublished" : "2024-05-17T20:04:32Z",
  "headline" : "Keeping the Mars Sample Return Program alive.",
  "image" : {
    "@type" : "ImageObject",
    "height" : 1320,
    "url" : "https://www.n2k.com/hubfs/t-minus%20episode%20art-Apr-18-2024-06-18-19-9841-PM.png",
    "width" : 2640
  },
  "mainEntityOfPage" : "https://space.n2k.com/podcasts/t-minus/280",
  "publisher" : {
    "@type" : "Organization",
    "logo" : {
      "@type" : "ImageObject",
      "height" : 60,
      "url" : "/hs/hsstatic/content_shared_assets/static-1.4092/img/default-amp-logo.png",
      "width" : 60
    },
    "name" : "T-Minus, the Only Daily Space Intelligence Podcast | N2K Space"
  }
}
```