PDS: The Planetary Atmospheres Node
The first mission of the ExoMars program consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter plus Schiaparelli, an Entry, descent and landing Demonstrator Module. The main objectives of this mission are to search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes and to test key technologies in preparation for ESA's contribution to subsequent missions to Mars.
The Orbiter and Schiaparelli were launched 14 March 2016. Three days before reaching the atmosphere of Mars, on 16 October, Schiaparelli was released. During entry an anomaly in the measurement and navigation system preventing the planned landing. From its coasting to Mars until shortly before it reached the surface, Schiaparelli communicated with the Trace Gas Orbiter or with Mars Express.
On 19 October, the Trace Gas Orbiter was inserted into an elliptical orbit around Mars. In January 2017, the orbit was adjusted to 74°relative to the equator to provide optimum coverage of the surface and optimizing its use for a relay station. The science orbit is a circular, approximately 400-km altitude, with data acquisition beginning in March 2018.
The ESA Planetary Science Archive (PSA) is the primary source for ExoMars2016 data. It provides data search and download capabilities. The latest releases of data from the various payload elements, in PDS-compatible formats, can be found on the PSA.
Basic Mission Goals
The main objectives of the trace gas orbiter are to search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes and to test key technologies in preparation for ESA's contribution to subsequent missions to Mars
For more information on the mission see the following link:
Mission Description
The Instrumentation consists of:
Planned Sciaparelli Investigations (some data was transmitted during entry)
The Orbiter and Schiaparelli were launched 14 March 2016. Three days before reaching the atmosphere of Mars, on 16 October, Schiaparelli was released. During entry an anomaly in the measurement and navigation system preventing the planned landing. From its coasting to Mars until shortly before it reached the surface, Schiaparelli communicated with the Trace Gas Orbiter or with Mars Express.
On 19 October, the Trace Gas Orbiter was inserted into an elliptical orbit around Mars. In January 2017, the orbit was adjusted to 74°relative to the equator to provide optimum coverage of the surface and optimizing its use for a relay station. The science orbit is a circular, approximately 400-km altitude, with data acquisition beginning in March 2018.
The ESA Planetary Science Archive (PSA) is the primary source for ExoMars2016 data. It provides data search and download capabilities. The latest releases of data from the various payload elements, in PDS-compatible formats, can be found on the PSA.
Basic Mission Goals
The main objectives of the trace gas orbiter are to search for evidence of methane and other trace atmospheric gases that could be signatures of active biological or geological processes and to test key technologies in preparation for ESA's contribution to subsequent missions to Mars
For more information on the mission see the following link:
Mission Description
The Instrumentation consists of:
Trace Gas Orbiter
ACS - Atmospheric Chemistry Suite is a set of three spectrometers ranging from near to mid-infrared, which will measure the spectrum of the water, methane and a variety of minor atmospheric constituents.
CaSSIS - Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System is a high-resolution multi-color imager (5 meters per pixel) is capable of obtaining color and stereo images over a wide swathe.
FREND - Fine Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector will map hydrogen from the surface down to a meter deep to determine the concentration of water ice near the surface with a pixel size corresponding to 40Km on the Martian surface
NOMAD - Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery is a combination of three spectrometers, two infrared and one ultraviolet. It is designed to perform high sensitivity orbital identification of atmospheric components.
CaSSIS - Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System is a high-resolution multi-color imager (5 meters per pixel) is capable of obtaining color and stereo images over a wide swathe.
FREND - Fine Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector will map hydrogen from the surface down to a meter deep to determine the concentration of water ice near the surface with a pixel size corresponding to 40Km on the Martian surface
NOMAD - Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery is a combination of three spectrometers, two infrared and one ultraviolet. It is designed to perform high sensitivity orbital identification of atmospheric components.
AMELIA - Atmospheric Mars Entry and Landing Investigation will carry out a program to determine atmospheric conditions such as density and wind from a high altitude to the surface using Schiaparelli's engineering data taken during the descent.
DeCa - Descent Camera will image the Martian surface as Sciaparelli approaches the landing site to determine the transparency of the Martian atmosphere and to support the generation of a 3-D topographic model of the surface at the landing site.
COMARS - Combined Aerothermal and Radiometer Sensors Instrument Package consists of a set of three small (22 mm diameter) combined sensors spaced equally across the rear cover of Schiaparelli plus a broadband radiometer and an electronics box. These sensors will monitor the pressure on the back cover, its surface temperature, the total heat flux rate and the radiative heat flux.
DREAMS - Dust characterization Risk assessment and Environment Analyzer on the Martian Surface consists of a suite of sensors to measure the wind speed and direction (MetWind), humidity (DREAMS-H), pressure (DREAMS-P), atmospheric temperature close to the surface (MarsTem), the transparency of the atmosphere (Solar Irradiance Sensor, SIS) and atmospheric electrification (Atmospheric Radiation and Electricity Sensor, MicroARES).
DeCa - Descent Camera will image the Martian surface as Sciaparelli approaches the landing site to determine the transparency of the Martian atmosphere and to support the generation of a 3-D topographic model of the surface at the landing site.
COMARS - Combined Aerothermal and Radiometer Sensors Instrument Package consists of a set of three small (22 mm diameter) combined sensors spaced equally across the rear cover of Schiaparelli plus a broadband radiometer and an electronics box. These sensors will monitor the pressure on the back cover, its surface temperature, the total heat flux rate and the radiative heat flux.
DREAMS - Dust characterization Risk assessment and Environment Analyzer on the Martian Surface consists of a suite of sensors to measure the wind speed and direction (MetWind), humidity (DREAMS-H), pressure (DREAMS-P), atmospheric temperature close to the surface (MarsTem), the transparency of the atmosphere (Solar Irradiance Sensor, SIS) and atmospheric electrification (Atmospheric Radiation and Electricity Sensor, MicroARES).
