Contact ExoMars-2016 went to look for life on Mars, set – RIA Novosti

© Photos : ESA / David Ducros

Korolev, March 15 – RIA Novosti. Mission Control Centre of the European Space Agency (ESA) has established communication with the first in EU history of cooperation and the Russian space station to search for life on Mars ExoMars 2016 ( “exomars 2016″), told reporters on Tuesday in the Russian MCC (city Korolev).

carrier rocket “Proton-M” with the station ExoMars 2016 was launched from Baikonur March 14 at 12.33 MSK, the separation of the spacecraft from the upper stage occurred at 23.13 MSK.

© Photo: ESA / ATG medialab

“received a report on receiving a signal from the interplanetary station ExoMars-2016″, – told reporters during a broadcast station flight.

According to the head “Roskosmos” Igor Komarov, today’s successful launch -. The result of work teams for a long time who worked in Russia, Kazakhstan and the European Mission Control Center

“To date, there are results – an easy and successful operation was with launch vehicles, propulsion upper stage “Breeze-M” includes today four times “, – he said.

Komarov recalled that in 2016, ExoMars will reach Mars in October 2016 – a large part of the work in the next phase of the mission will be carried out by ESA experts, however, if necessary, will be given the support of the Russian experts.

ExoMars-2016 and ExoMars-2018 is a unique joint project of the European space agency (ESA) and the state corporation “Roscosmos”. During the first orbital mission Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) module will study atmospheric trace species and the distribution of water ice in the Martian soil, including by using Russian scientific instruments, developed at the Institute of Space Research. It is expected that the demonstration landing module fulfills Schiaparelli-entry and landing will take place on the surface of the Red Planet.

The second stage of the mission is planned to implement during the next start-up in 2018, when Mars is scheduled to deliver a full descent module and a rover. Through the implementation of the second stage of ExoMars mission in Europe and Russia is the first time will be able to drill the soil of Mars two meters in depth.

© Ruptly

“Proton-M” was launched with the station search for life on Mars. Scenes from the Baikonur