EXOMARS TGO 2016

The first mission within the ESA-NASA ExoMars Programme, scheduled to arrive at Mars in 2016, consists of an Orbiter (TGO: Trace Gas Orbiter) plus an Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module (EDM).

The Orbiter and EDM will be launched together on an Atlas V 421 and will fly to Mars in a mated configuration. By taking advantage of a direct interplanetary trajectory to Mars the cruise phase can be limited to about 9 months. Upon arrival at Mars the EDM will be ejected on a hyperbolic entry trajectory towards the Red Planet. A few days later the Orbiter will enter orbit followed by a series of manoeuvres including a period of aerobraking operations to finally settle into a circular, 400-km altitude and 74° inclination orbit ready to conduct its scientific mission.

The selected science instruments on board TGO 2016 satellite are:

Mars Atmospheric Trace Molecule Occultation Spectrometer (MATMOS). An infrared spectrometer to detect very low concentrations of molecular constituents of the atmosphere. Principal Investigator: Paul Wennberg California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, USA. Participating countries: US, CA.
French Co-I:

T. Encrenaz - LESIA


High-resolution solar occultation and nadir spectrometer (SOIR/NOMAD). An infrared spectrometer to detect trace constituents in the atmosphere and to map their location on the surface. Principal Investigator: Ann Vandaele, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, Brussels, Belgium. Participating countries: BE, IT, ES, GB, US, CA.

ExoMars Climate Sounder (EMCS). An infrared radiometer to provide daily global measurements of dust, water vapour and chemical species in the atmosphere to aid the analysis of the spectrometer data. Principal Investigator: John Schofield, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, USA. Participating countries: US, GB, FR.
French Co-Is:

F. Forget - LMD
T. Fouchet - LESIA
F. Lefèvre - LMD
A. Maattanen - LATMOS
A. Spiga - LMD
O. Talagrand - LMD


High-resolution Stereo Color Imager (HiSCI). A camera to provide 4-colour stereo imaging at 2 m resolution per pixel over an 8.5 km swathe. Principal Investigator: Alfred McEwen, University of Arizona, Tucson, USA. Participating countries: US, CH, GB, IT, DE, FR.
French Co-I:

N. Mangold - LPNG


Mars Atmospheric Global Imaging Experiment (MAGIE). A wide-angle multi-spectral camera to provide global images in support of the other instruments. Principal Investigator: Bruce Cantor, Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, USA. Participating countries: US, BE, FR, RU.
French Co-Is:

Y. Langevin - IAS
F. Montmessin - LATMOS


In addition to the Trace Gas Orbiter, the 2016 mission will carry Europe's entry, descent and landing demonstration vehicle. The whole mission will be launched on a NASA rocket.