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 23 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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Spacecraft operations manager Peter Schmitz gives the thumbs up in the main control room at ESA’s control centre in Darmstadt, Germany, on 19 October 2016, shortly after the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter arrived at the Red Planet.
The spacecraft fired its main engine for 139 minutes to slow it down to be captured by Mars, entering an elliptical 101 000 x 3691 km orbit (with respect to the centre of the planet). It is in excellent health and will start making observations to calibrate its science instruments during two circuits in November 2016.
More information on ExoMars/TGO operations.