BBC Focus

DISCOVERIES

The first mission of European
Space Agency’s (ESA) ExoMars
programme is set to complete its
seven-month journey to the Red
Pla net on 16 October.
The spacecraft comprises two
separate instruments: the Trace Gas
Orbiter (TGO) and the Schiaparelli
landing demonstration module.
Once in orbit the TGO will perform
detailed observations of the Martian
atmosphere, searching for evidence
of gases indicative of the existence
of biological life, such as methane.
Also, at this point the Schiaparelli
la nder will be ejected f rom t he
orbiter towards the Red Planet,
entering the atmosphere at
21,000km/h before using a
combination of thrusters,
aerobraking and parachutes to land
on t he su rface. Once safely on solid
ground, the lander will deploy its
payload of scientific instruments to
take measurements the atmospheric
conditions on the surface.
The la nder will only remain
operable for a few days but the TGO
will stay in orbit for five years,
waiting for the arrival of a second
rover in 2020 t hat will d rill into t he
surface of the Red Planet.

EXOMARS READY

TO SNIFF OUT

LIFE ON MARS

SPACE

TRACE GAS ORBITER

TGO’S INSTRUMENTS

Earth

Communications

Antenna

Dimensions:

3.2 x 2 x 2m

Wingspan:

17.5m

Launch mass:

4,332kg

Solar panels

Colour and Stereo Surface

Imaging System (CaSSIS)

High-resolution camera

obtains colour and

stereo images

Nadir and Occultation for

Mars Discovery (NOMAD)

Fine Resolution

Epithermal Neutron

Detector (FREND)

Maps hydrogen on

surface down to a depth of

1m, looking for water ice

Identifies atmospheric

components, including

methane

Investigates the chemistry

and structure of the Martian

atmosphere

Atmospheric Chemistry

Suite (ACS)

Schiaparelli

lander

Human

to scale

TGO’s mission is to sniff the

atmosphere of Mars for

evidence of methane, a gas

with implications for the

existence of life on the

Red Planet.