Tag Archives: ESA

New clues to source of Mars methane

Posted on August 30, 2019 by rburnham

[Ed. note: Partial report on this research appeared earlier here] A team of researchers led by scientists at York University’s Lassonde School of Engineering has created a model of how methane changes on Mars throughout the day by using data … Continue reading →

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ExoMars rover ready for environmental tests

Posted on August 27, 2019 by rburnham

The Rosalind Franklin ExoMars rover has completed its construction activities in the UK and will now depart to France for testing under the conditions of the Red Planet’s environment. The final pieces of the rover’s scientific suite of instruments were … Continue reading →

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Australian Outback as testbed for Mars

Posted on August 23, 2019 by rburnham

This week, scientists from NASA’s upcoming Mars 2020 mission joined their counterparts from the joint European-Russian ExoMars mission in an expedition to the Australian Outback, one of the most remote, arid regions on the planet. Both teams came to hone … Continue reading →

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ExoMars rover: All instruments now onboard

Posted on August 20, 2019 by rburnham

The full suite of scientific instruments, including cameras that will give us our eyes on Mars, the drill that will retrieve pristine soil samples from below the surface, and the onboard laboratory that will seek out signs of life are … Continue reading →

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ExoMars rover: Moving on Mars

Posted on August 16, 2019 by rburnham

The ExoMars mission will see Rosalind Franklin the rover and its surface platform Kazachok land on the Red Planet in 2021. From fine-grained soil to large boulders and slopes, the rover has to be able to move across many types … Continue reading →

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Mars Express: Dark meets light in Terra Cimmeria

Posted on August 8, 2019 by rburnham

ESA’s Mars Express has captured the cosmic contrast of Terra Cimmeria, a region in the southern highlands of Mars marked by impact craters, water-carved valleys, and sand and dust in numerous chocolate and caramel hues. Mars is often referred to … Continue reading →

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Mars courier: Bringing the samples to Earth

Posted on July 29, 2019 by rburnham

The first round-trip to the Red Planet will see a European orbiter bringing martian samples back to Earth. ESA is opening the door to industry to build the spacecraft that will deliver the precious rocks, dust and gas from Mars … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2020 radio science instrument tested

Posted on July 23, 2019 by rburnham

An ambitious instrument for ESA’s ExoMars 2020 mission has passed its testing in conditions resembling those on the Red Planet. It will now be transported to Russia for its acceptance review, followed by integration onto the Kazachok Surface Platform, scheduled … Continue reading →

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Mars Express: Dust storms swirl at martian north pole

Posted on July 4, 2019 by rburnham

ESA’s Mars Express has been keeping an eye on local and regional dust storms brewing at the north pole of the Red Planet over the last month, watching as they disperse towards the equator. Local and regional storms lasting for … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2020: Progress and challenges

Posted on July 1, 2019 by rburnham

The full parachute system that will help deliver the ExoMars rover and a surface science platform to the martian surface has completed a full-scale high-altitude deployment sequence test, although unexpected damage to the main parachutes occurred. Meanwhile, the main elements … Continue reading →

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