Six months after its arrival at Mars (on 19 October 2016), Mission controllers of ESA’s Trace Gas Orbiter have begun the challenging process of adjusting the spacecraft’s orbit. This involves using the shifting Martian atmosphere to gradually slow the satellite in a process known as aerobraking.

Meanwhile, as the final design of the rover nears completion, the team developing the ExoMars 2020 mission has shortlisted two final landing sites, in areas where they believe traces of life are most likely to be found.

This report contains new animation showing orbits of the Trace Gas Orbiter, animation of designs for the final configuration of the 2020 rover, the ExoMars control area at ESOC and interviews recorded at ESA centres of ESOC and ESTEC.