Tag Archives: ESA

ExoMars: Lego rover model helps test remote ops

Posted on May 19, 2016 by rburnham

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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Mars Express: Cut crater in Memnonia Fossae

Posted on May 18, 2016 by rburnham

An extensive network of fault lines cut through this region of Mars, including one that slices clean through an ancient 52 km-wide crater. The fault network is likely linked to the formation of the Tharsis Bulge, a region to the … Continue reading →

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Rise and fall of Martian lakes

Posted on May 16, 2016 by rburnham

There is a wealth of evidence, collected over the past few decades, suggesting liquid water was abundant in the early history of Mars. However, the size, evolution, and duration of standing bodies of water such as lakes on Mars’ surface … Continue reading →

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Olympus Mons: slumps make terraces & scarps

Posted on May 11, 2016 by rburnham

Scientists from the Division of Planetary Sciences and Remote Sensing in the Institute of Geological Sciences at Freie Universität Berlin have succeeded in creating a model simulating the formation of mysterious structures on the surface of the Mars volcano, Olympus … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2018 mission slips to July 2020 launch

Posted on May 2, 2016 by rburnham

[The launch of the second phase of the ExoMars mission, scheduled for 2018 has been pushed back to 2020.] (…) The second ExoMars mission involves a Russian-led surface platform and a European-led rover, also to be launched on a Proton … Continue reading →

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Driving rover Bridget from the Space Station

Posted on April 27, 2016 by rburnham

In a live space-to-ground test of human–robot cooperation, ESA astronaut Tim Peake will control a rover on Earth on Friday from the International Space Station, helping prepare for future exploration missions. On 29 April, ESA astronaut Tim Peake will operate … Continue reading →

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ExoMars: First light for high-res camera

Posted on April 14, 2016 by rburnham

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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ExoMars prepped & launched: Time-lapse video

Posted on April 1, 2016 by rburnham

Time lapse movie following the preparations of the ExoMars 2016 spacecraft in the lead up to launch on 14 March 2016. The movie includes the integration of the entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, Schiaparelli, with the Trace Gas Orbiter, … Continue reading →

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HRSC: Frosty Martian valleys

Posted on March 24, 2016 by rburnham

Nestled within the fractured rim of a vast impact basin on Mars are valley floors dusted in frost. At 2200 km wide and up to 9 km deep, the Hellas Basin is the largest impact crater on Mars. This scene, … Continue reading →

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ExoMars: En route and performing flawlessly

Posted on March 23, 2016 by rburnham

Following a spectacular liftoff, ESA’s ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is performing flawlessly en route to the Red Planet. The ESA–Roscosmos ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator are well on their way following the … Continue reading →

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