Europe and Russia launched Exo-Mars to explore the Red Planet

Europe and Russia launched an unmanned spacecraft, named ExoMars 2016, to explore if life once existed on the Red Planet or still possibilities are there for existence.

Exo-Mars

• The ExoMars programme is a joint endeavour between European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos
• It aims to explore whether life has ever existed on Mars

Reason of name

• ‘exo’ refers to the study of exobiology – the possible existence of life beyond Earth (sometimes also referred to as astrobiology

Two phased Mission

• The programme comprises of two missions.
• The first launched in March 2016 and consists of theTrace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and Schiaparelli, an entry, descent and landing demonstrator module.
• The second mission of Exo Mars will be launched in 2018

Trace Gas Orbiter

• TGO will search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gases that could possibly indicate active biological or geological processes
• Schiaparelli will test key technologies in preparation for ESA’s contribution to subsequent missions to Mars

Second Mission

• The second mission planned for launch in 2018 comprises of a rover and surface science platform.
• It will carry a drill and a suite of instruments dedicated to exobiology and geochemistry research

Points to note

• Exo-Mars launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan
• Other Mars missions include Mangalyaan by India and two rovers Curiosity and Opportunity sent by NASA