Tag Archives: ExoMars

ExoMars 2018: Testing rover egress to surface

Posted on October 28, 2015 by rburnham

One small step for a robot: getting a robotic rover off its lander will be the next most nerve-wracking moment for Europe’s 2018 ExoMars mission after landing. This week a simulation stretching between France and the Netherlands will let ESA’s Planetary … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Catastrophically cratered

Posted on October 27, 2015 by rburnham

Catastrophically cratered.  Candidate future landing site in the Oxia Palus region. Beautiful Mars series.

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ExoMars 2018 rover heading for Oxia Planum

Posted on October 21, 2015 by rburnham

Oxia Planum has been recommended as the primary candidate for the landing site of the ExoMars 2018 mission.  [HiRISE imaged the Oxia Planum landing site last summer.] ExoMars 2018, comprising a rover and surface platform, is the second of two … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2018: Landing site choices to narrow

Posted on October 12, 2015 by rburnham

Later this month, scientists and engineers will meet to choose which two, of four possible landing sites for the ExoMars 2018 mission, should be retained as candidates. ExoMars is a joint two-mission endeavour between ESA and Russia’s Roscosmos space agency. … Continue reading →

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ESA: Commit to 2018 rover launch by December?

Posted on October 1, 2015 by rburnham

Report by Spaceflight Now‘s Stephen Clark: With the flagship-class ExoMars program nearing the finish line after a decade in development, European Space Agency officials want to complete negotiations with the mission’s industrial teams before committing to a 2018 launch date … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2016 targets March launch window

Posted on September 18, 2015 by rburnham

A problem recently discovered in two sensors in the propulsion system of the entry, descent and landing demonstrator module has prompted the recommendation to move the launch of the ExoMars 2016 mission, initially foreseen in January, to March, still within … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Possible ExoMars landing site, Aram Dorsum

Posted on July 30, 2015 by rburnham

This image is part of a proposed landing site for the ExoMars Rover, planned for launch in 2018. We can see how an upper layers of light toned sediments have been eroded, leaving a lower surface which appears dark. The … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Clay-rich terrain in Oxia Planum, a proposed ExoMars landing site

Posted on July 8, 2015 by rburnham

Oxia Planum is an ancient (Noachian epoch) terrain situated to the east of Chryse Planitia at about 18 degrees north. The OMEGA infrared spectrometer on board Mars Express, and CRISM onboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, have identified iron-magnesium rich clays … Continue reading →

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ExoMars 2016, orbiter & lander, nears completion

Posted on June 30, 2015 by rburnham

The ExoMars spacecraft is almost complete. A joint mission between ESA and Roscosmos, it begins with the launch of the ExoMars orbiter in 2016 and carries an aerodynamically designed capsule containing a robotic lander. Getting to Mars, landing there safely … Continue reading →

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HiRISE: Good place to explore

Posted on June 9, 2015 by rburnham

A good place to explore — candidate ExoMars landing site near Hypanis Valles. Beautiful Mars series.

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