Post by glactus on Dec 8, 2011 0:27:44 GMT
The first mission of the ESA/NASA XoMars program scheduled to arrive at Mars in 2016 consists of a trace gas orbiter plus an Entry, Descent and landing demonstrator module (EDM).
The ExoMars rover
The main objectives of the mission are to search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gasses that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes and to test key technologies in preparation for ESA's contribution to subsequent missions to Mars.
The ExoMars rover on Mars
The orbiter and EDM will be launched in January 2016 on an Atlas V 431 rocket and will fly to Mars in a mated configuration. By taking advantage of the positioning of Earth and Mars the cruise phase can be limited to about 9 months. Three days before reaching the atmosphere of Mars the EDM will be ejected from the orbiter towards the Red Planet.
ExoMars rover after landing
The EDM capsule will then coast towards its destination entering the Martian atmosphere and landing on the surface of the planet. From its coasting to Mars and its landing the EDM will communicate with the orbiter. On the surface the communication of the EDM will be supported from a NASA relay orbiter. The XoMars orbiter will be inserted into an elliptical orbit around Mars and then sweep through the atmosphere to finally settle into a circular 400 Km altitude orbit ready to conduct its scientific mission.
To see video of XoMars just click on the link below. Full screen option bottom right. Has sound.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w15lkUaq7-Q
Credits: These are non copywrite images
Text by wikipedia
Vido by You Tube
The ExoMars rover
The main objectives of the mission are to search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gasses that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes and to test key technologies in preparation for ESA's contribution to subsequent missions to Mars.
The ExoMars rover on Mars
The orbiter and EDM will be launched in January 2016 on an Atlas V 431 rocket and will fly to Mars in a mated configuration. By taking advantage of the positioning of Earth and Mars the cruise phase can be limited to about 9 months. Three days before reaching the atmosphere of Mars the EDM will be ejected from the orbiter towards the Red Planet.
ExoMars rover after landing
The EDM capsule will then coast towards its destination entering the Martian atmosphere and landing on the surface of the planet. From its coasting to Mars and its landing the EDM will communicate with the orbiter. On the surface the communication of the EDM will be supported from a NASA relay orbiter. The XoMars orbiter will be inserted into an elliptical orbit around Mars and then sweep through the atmosphere to finally settle into a circular 400 Km altitude orbit ready to conduct its scientific mission.
To see video of XoMars just click on the link below. Full screen option bottom right. Has sound.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=w15lkUaq7-Q
Credits: These are non copywrite images
Text by wikipedia
Vido by You Tube