ExoMars at Mars

Date: Tue, Oct 11, 2016 | 06:45 - 07:00 GMT | 08:45 - 09:00 CEST

Replay: Tue, Oct 11, 2016 | 16:00 - 16:15 GMT | 18:00 - 18:15 CEST

Type: ESA TV Exchange

Format: 16:9

On 19 October ExoMars will be at the Red Planet!

ExoMars, a joint mission with Russia’s Roscosmos, was launched on 14 March 2016 and after travelling nearly 500 million km is closing to its target.  

The ExoMars Mission is composed of Trace Gas Orbiter, TGO, which is carrying the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator.

These past months ExoMars lowered its orbit towards a final circular orbit at about 400 km altitude that will allow it to begin its five-year scientific mission.

While ExoMars is set to intercept Mars it will also precisely deliver the Schiaparelli lander on 19 October onto Meridiani Planum, a large, flat region near the equator.

Upon arrival, Schiaparelli will test the technology needed for the 2020 rover to make a controlled landing, while its parent craft will brake into an elliptical orbit around Mars.

TGO will analyse rare gases in the planet’s atmosphere, especially methane, which on Earth may indicate either active geological or biological processes.

This film covers the landing and orbital manoeuvres, including the use of aerobraking - which ESA is using for the first time at Mars. It contains soundbites from Michel DENIS, ExoMars Flight Operations Director, ESA (English A-roll, French B-roll) and Johannes BAUER, ExoMars Spacecraft Operations Engineer, ESA (English A-roll, German B-roll).

More information at: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars

Preview and download:
https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2016/10/ExoMars_at_the_Red_Planet

Script:
EbSI-127414.docx

Satellite Parameters: Eutelsat 9A at 9 degrees E, transponder 59, downlink frequency 11900.1 horizontally polarised, symbol rate 27,500 FEC 2/3.