The Proton-M rocket booster blasts off at the Russian leased Baikonur cosmodrome, Kazakhstan, Monday, March 14, 2016.
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Once they arrive at the Red Planet, the Trace Gas Orbiter will eventually begin traveling 400 kilometers above the surface as it searches for methane and other trace gasses associated with biological activity.
The ExoMars spacecraft was built and designed by Franco-Italian contractor Thales Alenia Space.
Launched with the intention of finding life, or signs of it, on the Red Planet, the project is being considered as the launchpad for developing ever closer ties between Russian Federation and Europe in space exploration.
Under the ESA and Russian Space Agency’s (Roscosmos) plan, a Proton rocket will be lifted off towards Mars to check the source of methane in the planet’s atmosphere. The orbiter is still operating at the Red Planet, but mission controllers lost contact with the lander, known as Beagle 2, shortly before it touched down. This orbiter aims to study and detect methane and other gas in the atmosphere that might signal biological or geological activity on Mars. Once on the surface, the communications of Schiaparelli will be supported from Mars Express and from a NASA Relay Orbiter.
The probe will measure minute levels of atmospheric gases, among which may be the natural waste products of microbial Martians.
One component of TGO, a neutron detector called FREND, can help provide improved mapping of potential water resources on Mars, amid growing evidence the planet once had as much if not more water than Earth.
Scientists will have to wait a whole year for TGO to finish making orbital adjustments in preparation for its part in the mission. “It takes a lot of energy to fly to Mars and there is no shortcut”, said Rolf Densing ESA Director of Operations in an interview this morning.
TGO’s main goal is to hunt for methane, a possible sign of Mars life, in the planet’s atmosphere.
Neither the ESA nor Roscosmos has the best track record when it comes to Martian missions, and for now, both space agencies are breathing a huge sigh of relief. The lander will head towards Mars’ surface for a soft landing and will start gathering environmental information for a few days.
The ExoMars mission successfully blasted off Monday, and now is on its way to Mars. Three days later, on October 19th, Schiaparelli will begin its descent and attempt to land on the surface.
The Schiaparelli entry is also included which will demonstrate complex landing technology for a larger and ground-based Exomars rover expected to launch in 2018.
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The probe will investigate whether methane in the Martian atmosphere is coming from a geological source or is being produced by microbes.
