Tag Archives: ExoMars

Trace Gas Orbiter: Juventae Chasma’s layered mound

Posted on October 26, 2018 by rburnham

This striking view of layered sediments on Mars was captured by the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter’s Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System, CaSSIS, on 2 October 2018. The image, which covers an area 25 x 7 km wide, focuses on a … Continue reading →

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ExoMars: Measures radiation risk for Mars astronauts, watches dust storm subside

Posted on September 19, 2018 by rburnham

Astronauts on a mission to Mars would be exposed to at least 60% of the total radiation dose limit recommended for their career during the journey itself to and from the Red Planet, according to data from the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars … Continue reading →

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Trace Gas Orbiter: Frosty crater on Mars

Posted on September 17, 2018 by rburnham

This image shows the south-facing rim of a pit crater at 68°S in the Sisyphi Planum region of Mars. It is a colour composite made from images acquired on 2 September 2018 by the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System, … Continue reading →

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Wanted: A name for the ExoMars 2020 rover

Posted on July 20, 2018 by rburnham

The UK Space Agency has launched a competition to name a rover that is going to Mars to search for signs of life. Due to launch in 2020, the UK-built rover is part of ESA’s ExoMars mission. It will investigate … Continue reading →

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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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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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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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ExoMars poised to start science mission

Posted on April 9, 2018 by rburnham

The ExoMars orbiter will soon begin its search for gases that may be linked to active geological or biological activity on the Red Planet. The Trace Gas Orbiter has reached its final orbit after a year of ‘aerobraking’ that ended … Continue reading →

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ExoMars: Surfing complete

Posted on February 21, 2018 by rburnham

Slowed by skimming through the very top of the upper atmosphere, ESA’s ExoMars has lowered itself into a planet-hugging orbit and is about ready to begin sniffing the Red Planet for methane. The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter arrived at Mars … Continue reading →

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Trace Gas Orbiter: Aerobraking down, down

Posted on February 2, 2018 by rburnham

Spacecraft Operations Engineer Armelle Hubault, working on the ExoMars TGO flight control team, reports: This graphic (above) gives a very concise visualisation of the fantastic progress we’ve made with aerobraking to date. It was coded by my ExoMars TGO colleague … Continue reading →

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