ExoMars - An ESA/NASA collaboration?

[Rick]

European ExoMars rover developments

The project to design and build a European rover to send to Mars has passed an important milestone.

Engineers have demonstrated a vented, or dead-beat, airbag technology that could be used to cushion the vehicle's landing on the Red Planet.

An effective entry, descent and landing system will be critical to the success of the ExoMars mission, as it is known.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6738585.stm

[Rick]

The European Space Agency (Esa) is pushing forward with its design for a rover mission to send to Mars in 2013.

Project teams have been authorised to investigate a concept that would launch a 205kg robot on a heavy-lift rocket.

The vehicle, expected to land in September 2014, would be equipped with a 16.5kg package of instruments to search for past or present life.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/6745177.stm

[Rick]

The European Space Agency (ESA) has compiled a shortlist of places it would like to look for life (past or present) on Mars.

The agency says its ExoMars mission, planned for a 2013 launch, will touch down on some of the red planet's oldest rocks, as these might once have been in contact with Martian water. A region rich in clay minerals would be ideal, the agency said, since these so-called phyllosilicates contain water in their crystalline structure.

More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/11/16/life_on_mars_euro/

[Rick]

The European Space Agency (Esa) has drawn up its shortlist of the best places to look for life on Mars.

Esa will launch a mission called ExoMars in 2013 in which a robot rover will search the Martian surface for evidence of past or present life.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7093172.stm

[Rick]

Road tests of a vehicle with a difference are taking place at Aberystwyth University.

Scientists working on a new attempt to search for life on Mars are testing equipment on a scale model of a rover vehicle, which could roam the planet.

They have simulated the surface of Mars in a lab, as part of the European Space Agency-led ExoMars 2013 mission.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/wales/mid_/7262729.stm

[Rick]

Has a wheel just come off Britain's participation in the biggest European space mission of the next decade?

Funding for UK-led experiments on the ExoMars rover and lander is to be cut by 25% in their key development phase.

...

These positions are now threatened because of a decision to rein back development money. The problem stems from the budget squeeze experienced by the funding agency which oversees UK astronomy and physics - the Science and Technology Facilities Council (STFC).

It has sought to claw back £80m of savings to balance its 2009-11 budget - and ExoMars lost out in a review process that was held to find the highest priority science endeavours.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7492497.stm

[Rick]

Engineers have unveiled the latest prototypes for a European rover that is due to land on Mars in 2015.

BBC News has had exclusive access to the test vehicles which are being put through their paces by space company UK Astrium at its HQ in Stevenage.

The British team on this European Space Agency (Esa) project has nicknamed the prototypes Bruno and Bradley.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7561093.stm

[Rick]

The European and US space agencies (Esa and Nasa) have taken a significant step towards teaming up to explore Mars.

They have announced a joint initiative for robotic exploration of the Red Planet following a two-day summit in Plymouth, UK, last month.

But this means European space ministers now face tough decisions over the future of Esa's ExoMars rover mission.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/8130393.stm

[Whitters]

8 July 2009
On 29 and 30 June the ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, David Southwood, met NASA’s Associate Administrator for Science, Ed Weiler, in Plymouth, UK, to establish a way for a progressive programme for exploration of the Red Planet. The outcome of the bilateral meeting was an agreement to create a Mars Exploration Joint Initiative (MEJI) that will provide a framework for the two agencies to define and implement their scientific, programmatic and technological goals at Mars.

http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMH1J6CTWF_index_0.html

[Ian]

lets hope it doesn't go the usual way of UK-US collaboration.

We give them all our good stuff, they use it and call it their own. Supersonic aircraft anyone?

[Rick]

A quarry in the south of England has been the site of an "eye test" for Europe's planned rover mission ExoMars.

The quarry - chosen for its similarity to Martian terrain - saw cameras and image processing software tested on the ExoMars prototype rover Bridget.

The rover will be equipped with a raft of cameras and the aim is to integrate them and the data they will send back.

More: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/8271733.stm

[Rick]

The first joint U.S.-European mission to Mars now has a plan for its toolkit.

Scheduled for launch in 2016, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter will study the chemical composition of Mars' atmosphere with a suite of instruments specially suited to the task. These instruments are expected to  take measurements 1,000 times more sensitive than those by previous Mars orbiters.

"To fully explore Mars, we want to marshal all the talents we can on Earth," said European Space Agency scientist David Southwood.

More on Space.com

[Rick]

ExoMars 2016 Targets March Launch Window

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 the launch window of early 2016.

ExoMars is a joint endeavour between ESA and Russia's Roscosmos space agency. The recommendation was made in full coordination between the two agencies and will be finally endorsed by a joint steering board on 24 September.

The Schiaparelli module will prove key technologies to demonstrate Europe's capability to make a controlled landing on Mars.

The 600 kg Schiaparelli will ride to Mars on the Trace Gas Orbiter, which will subsequently enter orbit around the Red Planet to begin its five-year mission of studying atmospheric gases potentially linked to present-day biological or geological activity.

More from ESA

[Rick]

Landing Site Recommended for ExoMars 2018

Oxia Planum has been recommended as the primary candidate for the landing site of the ExoMars 2018 mission.

ExoMars 2018, comprising a rover and surface platform, is the second of two missions making up the ExoMars programme, a joint endeavour between ESA and Russia's Roscosmos. Launch is planned for May 2018, with touchdown on the Red Planet in January 2019.

Meanwhile, the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator module will be launched in March 2016, arriving at Mars around this time next year.

Schiaparelli will land in Meridiani Planum. The orbiter will study the atmosphere and act as a relay for the second mission.

More from ESA

[Rick]

Exomars Prepares to Leave Europe for Launch Site

The two ExoMars spacecraft of the 2016 mission are being prepared for shipping to the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan ahead of their launch in March.

A joint endeavour with Russia's Roscosmos space agency, ExoMars comprises two missions. The Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Schiaparelli make up the 2016 mission, while the 2018 mission will combine a rover and a surface science platform. Both missions will be launched on Russian Proton rockets from Baikonur.

TGO and Schiaparelli are undergoing final preparations at Thales Alenia Space in Cannes, France, where they were today on display for media to view for the last time before they leave Europe.

They will be shipped separately in the middle of next month, arriving at the cosmodrome on 21 and 23 December, respectively.

More from ESA

[Rick]

European Payload Selected for Exomars 2018 Surface Platform

Two European instruments and four European contributions on two Russian instruments have been selected for the Russian-led science platform that will land on Mars as part of the ESA–Roscosmos ExoMars 2018 mission.

The first of the two ExoMars mission is in final preparation for launch next March. It consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter, which will investigate the possible biological or geological origins of important trace gases in the martian atmosphere, and Schiaparelli, an entry, descent and landing demonstrator module.

Schiaparelli will test key landing technologies and provide atmospheric and environmental data important for ESA's contributions to subsequent missions to Mars.

The second ExoMars mission, planned for launch in May 2018, comprises a European-led rover that will be the first to combine driving across the martian surface with drilling two metres below the surface, and a stationary surface science platform.

More from ESA

[Rick]

Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli Are Joined (ExoMars 2016)

The Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli are now in their launch configuration. The ExoMars 2016 spacecraft will remain united until 16 October, when the entry, descent and landing demonstrator module will separate from the orbiter to descend to the surface of Mars.

The mating of the Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli began on Friday 12 February with the two spacecraft having been transferred into the fuelling area, where a mounting platform surrounding the orbiter facilitates the activities that need to be done about 4 m off the ground.

More from ESA

[Rick]

ExoMars 2016 Spacecraft Encapsulated Within Launcher Fairing

There are a few photos of the spacecraft being attached to its rocket on the ESA site.  See them here.

[Rick]

ExoMars 2016 Launch

Launch progress updates from ESA here

[Rick]

Second Exomars Mission Moves to Next Launch Opportunity in 2020

The second ExoMars mission involves a Russian-led surface platform and a European-led rover, also to be launched on a Proton from Baikonur. Russian and European experts made their best efforts to meet the 2018 launch schedule for the mission, and in late 2015, a dedicated ESA-Roscosmos Tiger Team, also including Russian and European industries, initiated an analysis of all possible solutions to recover schedule delays and accommodate schedule contingencies.

The Tiger Team presented its final report during a meeting of the Joint ExoMars Steering Board (JESB) held in Moscow. Having assessed the possible ways to ensure successful mission implementation, the JESB concluded that, taking into account the delays in European and Russian industrial activities and deliveries of the scientific payload, a launch in 2020 would be the best solution.

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Ho hum...

[Rick]

Fears grow for European Schiaparelli Mars lander

There is growing pessimism that a European probe which attempted to land on Mars on Wednesday has been lost.

Tracking of the Schiaparelli robot's radio signals was dropped less than a minute before it was expected to touch down on the Red Planet's surface.

Satellites at Mars have tried to shed light on the probe's status without success.

One American satellite even called out to Schiaparelli to try to get it to respond.

The fear will be that the robot has crashed and been destroyed. The European Space Agency, however, is a long way from formally calling that outcome.

Its engineers will be running through "fault trees" attempting to figure out why communication was lost and what they can do next to retrieve the situation.

This approach could well last several days.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37707776

[JohnP]

Not again... listening to it on Radio4 tonight on way home - time for detection came & went... Fingers crossed it comes to life..

[Rick]

Schiaparelli Mars probe's parachute 'jettisoned too early'

Europe's Schiaparelli lander did not behave as expected as it headed down to the surface of Mars on Wednesday.

Telemetry data recovered from the probe during its descent indicates that its parachute was jettisoned too early.

The rockets it was supposed to use to bring itself to a standstill just above the ground also appeared to fire for too short a time.

The European Space Agency (Esa) has not yet conceded that the lander crashed but the mood is not positive.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37715202

[Rick]

Schiaparelli: Mars probe 'crash site identified'

The gouge in the ground likely made by Europe's Schiaparelli probe as it hit the surface of Mars on Wednesday has been imaged by an American satellite.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) has identified a large dark patch in the robot's targeted landing zone consistent with a high-velocity impact.

Schiaparelli is widely thought to have crashed and been destroyed.

Data transmitted from the probe before it lost contact indicated that its descent systems did not work properly.

Its parachute was jettisoned too early and its retrorockets, designed to slow the robot to a hover just above the surface, fired only for a few seconds. They should have operated for half a minute.

More: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-37731671

[Rick]

Camera on Mars Orbiter Shows Signs of Latest Mars Lander

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has identified new markings on the surface of the Red Planet that are believed to be related to Europe's Schiaparelli test lander, which arrived at Mars on Oct. 19.

The new image shows a bright spot that may be Schiaparelli's parachute, and a larger dark spot interpreted as resulting from the impact of the lander itself following a much longer free fall than planned, after thrusters switched off prematurely.

More: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6658

[Rick]

Further Clues to Fate of Mars Lander, Seen From Orbit

The most powerful telescope orbiting Mars is providing new details of the scene near the Martian equator where Europe's Schiaparelli test lander hit the surface last week.

An Oct. 25 observation using the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter shows three impact locations within about 0.9 mile (1.5 kilometers) of each other. An annotated view is available online at

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA21131

The scene shown by HiRISE includes three locations where hardware reached the ground. A dark, roughly circular feature is interpreted as where the lander itself struck. A pattern of rays extending from the circle suggests that a shallow crater was excavated by the impact, as expected given the premature engine shutdown. About 0.8 mile (1.4 kilometers) eastward, an object with several bright spots surrounded by darkened ground is likely the heat shield. About 0.6 mile (0.9 kilometer) south of the lander impact site, two features side-by-side are interpreted as the spacecraft's parachute and the back shell to which the parachute was attached. Additional images to be taken from different angles are planned and will aid interpretation of these early results.

More: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=6663

[Rick]

Schiaparelli Landing Investigation Makes Progress

Good progress has been made in investigating the ExoMars Schiaparelli anomaly of 19 October. A large volume of data recovered from the Mars lander shows that the atmospheric entry and associated braking occurred exactly as expected.

The parachute deployed normally at an altitude of 12 km and a speed of 1730 km/h. The vehicle's heatshield, having served its purpose, was released at an altitude of 7.8 km.

As Schiaparelli descended under its parachute, its radar Doppler altimeter functioned correctly and the measurements were included in the guidance, navigation and control system. However, saturation – maximum measurement – of the Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) had occurred shortly after the parachute deployment. The IMU measures the rotation rates of the vehicle. Its output was generally as predicted except for this event, which persisted for about one second – longer than would be expected.

When merged into the navigation system, the erroneous information generated an estimated altitude that was negative – that is, below ground level. This in turn successively triggered a premature release of the parachute and the backshell, a brief firing of the braking thrusters and finally activation of the on-ground systems as if Schiaparelli had already landed. In reality, the vehicle was still at an altitude of around 3.7 km.

This behaviour has been clearly reproduced in computer simulations of the control system's response to the erroneous information.

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