Tag Archives: ESA

ExoMars TGO: South polar layered deposits

Posted on June 4, 2018 by rburnham

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter captured this view of part of the south polar ice cap on Mars on 13 May 2018. The poles of Mars have huge ice caps that are similar to Earth’s polar caps in Greenland and … Continue reading →

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Mars Express: From horizon to horizon

Posted on June 1, 2018 by rburnham

Fifteen years ago, ESA’s Mars Express was launched to investigate the Red Planet. To mark this milestone comes a striking view of Mars from horizon to horizon, showcasing one of the most intriguing parts of the martian surface. On 2 … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2020 rover set for tough environmental tests

Posted on May 30, 2018 by rburnham

A representative model of the ExoMars rover that will land on Mars in 2021 is beginning a demanding test campaign that will ensure it can survive the rigours of launch and landing, as well as operations under the environmental conditions … Continue reading →

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Toaster oven-sized chem lab to seek evidence of life on Mars

Posted on May 29, 2018 by rburnham

An international team of scientists has created a tiny chemistry lab for a rover that will drill beneath the Martian surface looking for signs of past or present life. The toaster oven-sized lab, called the Mars Organic Molecule Analyzer or … Continue reading →

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HRSC: Flight over Neukum Crater

Posted on May 17, 2018 by rburnham

This movie, based on images taken by ESA’s Mars Express, showcases the 102 km wide Neukum Crater in the southern hemisphere of Mars. The crater is named for the German physicist and planetary scientist, Gerhard Neukum, one of the founders … Continue reading →

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ESA deep-space tracking ready for InSight

Posted on May 4, 2018 by rburnham

NASA’s latest mission to Mars begins tomorrow. ESA deep space ground stations in Australia and South America will track the InSight spacecraft on NASA’s behalf as it begins its cruise to the Red Planet. Set to be launched from Vandenburg … Continue reading →

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ExoMars TGO returns first images from orbit

Posted on April 26, 2018 by rburnham

The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter has returned the first images of the Red Planet from its new orbit. The spacecraft arrived in a near-circular 400 km altitude orbit a few weeks ago ahead of its primary goal to seek out … Continue reading →

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ESA and NASA to investigate bringing martian soil to Earth

Posted on April 26, 2018 by rburnham

ESA and NASA signed a statement of intent today [April 26] to explore concepts for missions to bring samples of martian soil to Earth. Spacecraft in orbit and on Mars’s surface have made many exciting discoveries, transforming our understanding of … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Possible landing site for ExoMars rover in Mawrth Vallis

Posted on April 23, 2018 by rburnham

A possible landing site for the ExoMars rover in Mawrth Vallis. This digital terrain model (DTM) covers part of the proposed landing site for the European Space Agency’s ExoMars Rover at Mawrth Vallis. The proposed landing site is on the … Continue reading →

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Mars Express guidance update successful

Posted on April 18, 2018 by rburnham

A tired but very happy Mars Express flight control team pulled shift through the night between 16 and 17 April, overseeing the successful reboot and recovery of ESA’s nearly 15-year-old Red Planet explorer following the installation of significant updates to … Continue reading →

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