OREANDA-NEWS. The United Kingdom amended the export control law adopted in connection with the sanctions against Russia. They will allow to carry out some activities within the framework of the ExoMars 2020 mission to study Mars. The relevant document is posted in the legislative framework of the country.

Amendments are made to the section “Crimes related to goods and technologies included in the General Military List of the European Union”. The original version of the law in this section stated that a person who carries out activities to supply to Russia hydrazine, asymmetric dimethylhydrazine and methylhydrazine (components of high boiling propellant) intended for use in certain launchers commits a crime.

The amendments allow the import into Russia of certain substances intended for use in certain launchers, launch or refueling of certain satellites, or for certain tests and flights within the framework of the ExoMars 2020 mission. According to the explanatory note, deliveries can only be made subject to prior approval in accordance with the article on anti-Russian sanctions.

ExoMars is a joint project of Roscosmos and the European Space Research Agency (ESA). In 2016, the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) spacecraft and the Schiaparelli landing module were launched as part of the project. Currently, work is underway to launch the landing module of the joint development of Rostec and Roscosmos with a European automatic rover on board. The launch of the mission was scheduled for July 25, 2020.

In August this year, Roscosmos announced a postponement of the launch of the ExoMars 2020 joint Russian-European mission after an accident occurred in Sweden during tests of the European parachute system. Now arrival on Mars is predicted for March 2021.