Tag Archives: Schiaparelli lander

ExoMars 2016: Hazards of landing on Mars

[On October 4,  ExoMars 2016 is 11 days from the separation of the Schiaparelli lander from the Trace Gas Orbiter, and 14 days from Schiaparelli’s landing on Meridiani Planum. This ESA post describes the trials and tribulations of Mars landings … Continue reading

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ExoMars: Spotlight on Schiaparelli’s landing site

Schiaparelli, the Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module of the joint ESA / Roscosmos ExoMars 2016 mission, will target the Meridiani Planum region for its October landing, as seen in this mosaic created from Mars Express images. The landing ellipse, … Continue reading

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ExoMars 2016: Engine burn gives mission a kick

Following a lengthy firing of its powerful engine this morning, ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is on track to arrive at the Red Planet in October. ExoMars made its first critical manoeuvre since its 14 March launch this morning, firing … Continue reading

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ExoMars: Schiaparelli lander mid-cruise report

With just over half of the journey to Mars completed, the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing module has carried out its mid-cruise checkout. DREAMS and DECA have called home to report that they are in good health. The Schiaparelli module, … Continue reading

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ExoMars: TGO’s CaSSIS sends its first Mars image

The Mars Camera CaSSIS on the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter captured its first images of the Red Planet this week. The pictures are a part of the mission’s preparations for arriving at its destination in October. CaSSIS (Colour and Stereo … Continue reading

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ExoMars: A little help from friends

ESA’s first Mars orbiter will provide an important helping hand when the second arrives at the Red Planet in October. Following lift off in March, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Schiaparelli lander are now enroute to Mars, with … Continue reading

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ExoMars: Checking in with the Trace Gas Orbiter

Three months since launch and with a little over 260 million km to travel before reaching Mars, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter instruments are running through their paces this week during the mid-course checkout tests. Back in April, the first … Continue reading

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ExoMars: Dusty arrival for Schiaparelli lander?

In October 2016, the Schiaparelli capsule, also known as the Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module (EDM), is scheduled to make the first landing on Mars by an ESA spacecraft. Will it be greeted by a raging dust storm? What … Continue reading

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ExoMars: Lego rover model helps test remote ops

This Lego model of Europe’s ExoMars rover on its lander was not built solely for fun – but is actually a tool, being used by robotics engineers in the midst of a major ‘egress’ test campaign. Making a safe landing … Continue reading

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ExoMars: First light for high-res camera

In the weeks following liftoff on 14 March, mission operators and scientists have been intensively checking the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Schiaparelli entry, descent, and landing demonstrator to ensure they will be ready for Mars in October. (…) … Continue reading

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