I was just reading this BBC article about budget cuts for the Mars mission. But really, why is Europe heading for Mars in the first place? America already has probes there doing good science. Wouldn’t it be more sensible to complement America’s efforts rather than compete with them? My thoughts turn to sending a probe to Titan - some sort of dirigible - and a replacement for Hubble rather than Mars.
The Aurora program missions are planned for 2013 (ExoMars start) to 2033 (manned mission). The US Congress could cut off funding for all Mars activities starting with the next budget for all anyone knows (conversely of course ESA’s members could bury ESA’s Mars activities at any time until then). So it makes sense for both NASA and ESA to have missions in the pipeline IMO.
Europe is heading for Mars for the same reasons the NASA is. It’s highly interesting and way easier than exploring Titan or Europe. There has already been an European mission to Mars, and a couple others are planned, besides the one you mention, if I’m not mistaken.
There’s no concurrence here. Space agencies are in close contact and cooperate, and they don’t plan redundant missions.
What you wrote is essentially the same as asking why the NASA keeps sending probes to Mars, since those already there are “doing good science”.
I know the exchange rate for the Euro is bad but it’s not that hard exploring Europe 