March 14, 2016

Proton-M booster with ExoMars-2016 station designated to search for life forms on Mars was launched from Baikonur spaceport today on March 14, 2016.

The main task of 2016 mssion is to search for methane in traces in Mars atmosphere, that could indicate the presence of life forms on the Red Planet in the past or present and well as to test technologies for the next ExoMars mission scheduled for 2018.

Proton was launched nominally, Briz-M upper stage successfully separated from the booster.

Space device will separate from the upper stage is planned for 23.13, Moscow time. Report on the signal receipt is scheduled for March 15, 00.28, Moscow time, – Roscosmos spokesman said.

ExoMars-2016 and ExoMars-2018 is  unique joint project of ESA and Roscosmos. In the course of first mission Trace Gas Orbiter module will study trace gas in Mars atmosphere and ice distribution in Mars soil using equipment developed by RAS Space Research Institute while Schiaparelli landing module is expected to practice the entry and land on Mars surface.

Next mission scheduled for 2018 will deliver to Mars descent module and Mars rover. The scientists from Europe and Russia dealing with this project hope to drill Mars ground to 2 meters and take samples of soil.

More from this category:
October 15, 2014

Preparation works for the next launch of Proton-M booster with Briz-M upper stage and Express-AM6 satellite are under way at Baikonur. On October 13 Khrunichev…

full story
August 21, 2018

A month and a half before the start, the main ISS-57/58 crew traditionally started an important stage – the pre-flight exam session. In the first…

full story
February 19, 2019

The main crew of the ISS approached the most important stage of preparation at the GCTC – the complex exam training. This morning, the crew…

full story
December 8, 2014

Proton-M booster with Yamal-401 space device will be launched a day earlier: on December 15 instead of December  16, as was planned before, – Roscosmos…

full story
January 20, 2015

On Monday, January 19, space flight participant Sarah Brightman who will be a crew member of Soyuz TMA-18M spacecraft started  her training in Gagarin Cosmonaut…

full story
January 20, 2014

Once again Baikonur spaceport became a leader in terms of quantity of space launches performed since 23 boosters with space devices we launched from its…

full story
September 13, 2013

International Launch Services Inc. (ILS) confirmed that the first after July crash launch of Proton-M booster may be postponed because of the troubles with the…

full story
August 6, 2021

In order to form ballistic conditions prior to the Soyuz MS-19 crewed vehicle launch and docking, as well as undocking and landing of the Soyuz…

full story