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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Once TGO is set to orbit with the new, optimised orientation around Mars, it must also be on the correct side of the planet when the rover arrives – ‘in phase’ with Rosalind Franklin.
The black line represents TGO’s orbit around Mars at the time Rosalind Franklin begins its descent, itself shown by the green line.
Blue dots along the orbits of TGO and Rosalind Franklin are connected by horizontal lines, illustrating the two spacecrafts’ relative positions at different time intervals, and how they are able to ‘see’ each other at every moment, thus ensuring that radio contact can be maintained.