Second stage of ExoMars project implementation was shifted from 2018 to July 2020, – Roscosmos press office reports.

According to Roscosmos the second ExoMars mission that was to deliver to Mars Russian landing platform and European Mars rover was initially scheduled for 2018.

Late 2015 special team of experts Tiger Team that comprised  specialists from Roscosmos, ESA and European industrial contractors as well started working in search of possible solutions to compensate for delay and provide for back-up period in the framework of the schedule.

The decision to postpone the mission by two years was made following the results of Roscosmos – ESA meeting dedicated to ExoMars mission where Tiger Team made a report.

“Assessing the possibility of creating best conditions for successful implementation of the project JESB made a conclusion that considering delays in Russian and European contractors’ work and mutual deliveries of scientific equipment shifting the launch to 2020 will be the optimal solution”, – official message says.

Roscosmos and ESA ordered their operation teams to elaborate new work schedule together with contractors. Besides there will be a series of measures taken to control the work from both sides.

ExoMars-2016 and ExoMars-2018 is a unique joint project of ESA and Roscosmos. In the course of first mission Trace Gas Orbiter module will study trace gases of Mars atmosphere and distribution of ice in Mars ground using Russian equipment developed by Russian Academy of Science Institute for Space Researches while Schiaparelli module is expected to practice the entry and landing.