Photo: REUTERS / Shamil Zhumatov
carrier rocket” Proton-M “with the upper stage “Breeze-M” and the mission ExoMars spacecraft launched from Baikonur March 14 at 12.32 MSK. The course to orbit the Red Planet spacecraft to take longer on March 15 after his work finished upper stage.
ExoMars project is being implemented in two phases. The first phase, during which Mars sent orbiter Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), as well as a demonstration planting Schiaparelli module.
Scientific TGO objectives of the detection of small components of the Martian atmosphere, in including methane, mapping the prevalence of water in the top layer of soil with high spatial resolution, stereo planet’s surface. The unit is equipped with two instrument created in Russia: spectrometric complex ACS (ACS – Atmospheric Chemistry Suit, complex to study atmospheric chemistry) and Neutron Telescope high-resolution Frendo (FREND, Fine-Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector)
According to Nicholas Thomas, a researcher at the Center for space and space technology in the University of Bern, TGO will allow to consider in detail what can be the source of methane on Mars. Also, the unit will study the Martian volcanic gases.
Previously, the presence of traces of methane on Mars rover confirmed the NASA Curiosity. On Earth, methane is 90% of the organic
Another objective of the mission began -. To try the new technology input in the atmosphere, the spacecraft descent and landing on Mars. According to one of the leaders of ExoMars Jorge Vago, this will be the first mission in which the landing device on the planet will take place in the season of strong winds that raise huge clouds of red-brown dust. The dust on Mars can play the same role as the clouds on Earth – is a hypothesis that it absorbs sunlight and thereby heats the atmosphere. The purpose of the mission -. Check this assumption
Spacecraft ExoMars should reach the orbit of the Red Planet in October this year
The second stage of ExoMars project. which will be implemented in the years 2018-2020, it is planned delivery of the Russian Mars landing platform with a European rover automatic on board. On the rover will be installed a set of scientific equipment “Pasteur”, which includes two Russian instrument: ICEM and “hadron-MP.” As the Space Research Institute, the main purpose of research on board the rover – the direct study of the surface and atmosphere of Mars in the vicinity of the landing area, the search for compounds and substances that could indicate the possible existence of life on the planet. Russia is responsible for the landing platform, which will deliver the rover on the planet’s surface, it is done in Lavochkin. After leaving the rover’s platform will begin to operate as a stand-alone science station. On its board will be installed a set of scientific equipment for the study of composition and properties of the surface of Mars.
Sam rover will be equipped with a drilling rig capable of reaching depths of up to 2 m from the surface, and to take samples. This is important, as on Mars, where the atmosphere is very sparse, the surface is constantly bombarded by cosmic high-energy particles, which modify the properties of the material at depths of up to tens of centimeters.
For the implementation of the second phase of the ExoMars Russian project will also provide a launch vehicle “Proton-M” with the upper stage “Breeze-M»
-. In the current difficult political conditions, it is important to keep the field of technological cooperation between Russian and European scientists, which greatly contributes to Russian-European project ExoMars, – says member of the Russian Academy of cosmonautics Tsiolkovsky Andrew, son of John. – I would consider ExoMars as a first step to a large international project on the organization of a manned mission to the Red Planet. It is understood that tasks such as the colonization of other planets, the individual states to decide not. There need the broadest global cooperation
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