The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 22 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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ExoMars is a joint programme between ESA and Roscosmos, the Russian space agency, involving two complementary missions to Mars.
The first mission, to be launched in 2016, consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli, an entry, descent and landing demonstrator module.
After a seven-month journey to the red planet, the orbiter will perform a very complete study of rare gases in the martian atmosphere and how they vary over time, giving us an indication of any on-going biological or geological activity. Schiaparelli will test key landing technologies for subsequent missions to Mars.
The second mission, to be launched in 2018 comprises a European rover and a Russian stationary surface platform. The rover will collect samples from underground that have been shielded from the harsh radiation at the planet’s surface and will analyse them to look for indications of past and present life.