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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The first main parachute provided by Airborne Systems for the ExoMars 2022 mission during a dynamic extraction test using NASA/JPL’s test rig powered by compressed air. The lid of the parachute assembly is pulled along a suspended cable at high speed while the end of the assembly is fixed to a wall. When the release mechanism is activated, the parachute bag is pulled away from the parachute at the target speed, mimicking the extraction as it will be on Mars.
In the first image the parachute bag is clearly seen with the lines extruding. The second image captured seconds later shows the parachute after it has been extracted, with the empty bag to the left of the scene. The disc-gap band design of the parachute is clearly identifiable.
The tests took place in April 2021.