Images of the spacecraft taken by the Brazilian observatory OASI shortly after ExoMars was put on a flight path to Mars. They capture the ExoMars itself, as well as several accompanying objects. These objects have baffled scientists.
However, after several days of confusion, it was announced that this is the upper stage "Breeze-M" in the form of six subtle points. And why the upper stage suddenly became not one, but in the form of 6 objects, you may ask, but the scientists unfortunately do not give an answer to this question. They said that this is Breeze-M, so it is.
Earlier, the Space Research Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences reported that, thanks to the successful completion of its task by the Briz-M upper stage, the correction of the trajectory to Mars of the ExoMars-2016 station, created under the joint program of ESA and Roskosmos, was not required. The IKI RAS report also stated that the Trace Gas Orbiter and Schiaparelli spacecraft are operating in a normal mode. The safe temperature level of scientific instruments is observed, the orientation of the apparatus is supported by gyroscopes, the normal operation of solar and star sensors.
Work on test switching on of scientific equipment is planned to start soon and be completed by April 24. During the flight phase, which will begin after the completion of these works, communication sessions with the device will be held 3 times a week. The maneuver, which will be carried out in deep space, is planned for the end of July. During this maneuver, the spacecraft will receive a pulse of the order of 400 m / s at a certain point from the propulsion system, which will allow it to change the inclination in the heliocentric system.
On October 16, the planned separation of the vehicles will take place, after which Schiaparelli will enter the atmosphere of Mars on the 19th of the same month, while TGO will enter its orbit. Braking on the atmosphere of the orbiter will continue for another year, so the devices will be able to start full-scale work only in 2017. Experts expect uninterrupted operation of the orbiter until 2022.
The main task of Trace Gas Orbiter is to study trace gases in the Martian atmosphere and the distribution of water ice in its soil. Schiaparelli will be engaged in research and development of methods of entry into the atmosphere, landing and descent. It is planned to use this device for the above tasks for several days as long as the battery charge will last.
At the second stage, they are going to send a Russian landing platform to Mars together with a European rover. The main task assigned by scientists at this stage is to analyze the Martian soil obtained by drilling. Researchers want to test the hypothesis that the interior of Mars can store the remains of living organisms that once inhabited Mars. Initially, the second stage of the mission was planned for 2018, but now it is going to be postponed to 2020.