Tag Archives: ExoMars

ExoMars: TGO’s CaSSIS sends its first Mars image

Posted on June 16, 2016 by rburnham

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

Posted on June 15, 2016 by rburnham

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

Posted on June 15, 2016 by rburnham

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?

Posted on May 24, 2016 by rburnham

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

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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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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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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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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ExoMars imaged in flight by asteroid hunters

Posted on March 18, 2016 by rburnham

On 14 March, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli lander were lofted into orbit by a Proton rocket from Baikonur in Kazakhstan, starting a seven-month journey to the Red Planet. Following separation from the final stage at 20:13 GMT … Continue reading →

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