MARS: WHAT'S NEXT: NEXT MISSION

ESA and NASA finalizes the look of these vehicles, which in a few years will go to Mars.

ExoMars mission in 2016 will include two key modules: EDM (Entry, descent and landing Demonstrator Module - « demonstration module entry, descent and landing ... TGO would not make stops and remains at okolomarsianskoy orbit about two Earth years, where he will present measurements of atmospheric methane and other gases. Well, the descent module EDM will continuously analyze the composition of the Martian atmosphere directly in the planting. This process will take place in the midst of the local dust storms of the season, giving the device a unique opportunity to collect data on the state of the atmosphere during this period and make interesting observations on the surface.

As the name implies EDM, it is not so much a full scientific probe, as the apparatus for testing and demonstration of technologies for the future - more and more active - landings on Mars. However, for some time on the Red Planet's surface EDM will work, and scholars during this time will hold a series of experiments and observations. In particular, the tool DREAMS will collect meteorological data: wind speed and direction, humidity, pressure, atmospheric transparency. In addition, DREAMS is the first time to measure electric fields on the surface of Mars is believed that they intensify it during storms, as are collisions and friction of particles in a dusty atmosphere. Finally, in DREAMS will be installed and the color video camera.

We can say that the ExoMars 2016 - just a test mission, anticipating a much more interesting ExoMars 2018. Then descend to the surface of Mars rover complete, he will be equipped with a drill, which allows to conduct sampling to a depth of 2 m. Maybe there, protected from the corrosive effects that are available on the surface, are preserved traces of local life - and maybe even life itself.

In addition, the ExoMars mission in 2018 by itself will work out a number of technologies for the more distant plans to send a probe, which not only collect samples of Martian soil, but also bring them to Earth for analysis. Originally, by the way, it was planned that during the 2018 ExoMars will be delivered to the planet just two rovers, titled European and American C - MAX. However, budget problems forced the project to reduce.