More and more “eyes” on Mars, new mission in 2016 – The Republic

WATER flowing on Mars is the first great confirmation after years of intense research, which saw multiply the ‘eyes’ fixed on the Red Planet, including sensors, radar and cameras on board satellites and rovers. But the best is probably yet to come because the next challenge is to find life forms, organisms lived in the past or maybe still active and able to survive in an environment so extreme.

It is with this spirit that in 2016 prepares to reach Mars orbit the first phase of a new mission by 1.2 billion euro. It’s called ExoMars, it is organized by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Italy is in the front row with the Italian Space Agency (ASI) and its industry. “Surely Mars will continue to give us surprises,” said the president of ASI, Roberto Battiston. One announced yesterday by NASA “is the latest in a long series and essentially tells us that Mars is a place where there is water, although in different ways than we are used to on Earth.”

“We know,” he said, “that most of the water that is on the planet is frozen and is located in the basement, but there is also water that flows and solidifies in limited quantities, but enough to change color and surface characteristics. “

The launch of the ExoMars mission is scheduled by January 2016, with a first phase that includes a module in orbit around the planet and a descent module. This is a demonstration module built in Italy, in the factories of Turin of Thales Alenia Space. For 2018, in addition, there will be a second phase, conducted by ESA with the participation of Russia. This time a rover, named in honor of the astronomer Schiaparelli at the end of ’800 watched the famous canals of Mars, will explore the surface of Mars and the Italian will drill with a drill to a depth of two meters, looking for traces of life. The drill is the ‘big brother’ of the mission Rosetta lander Philae, the first man-made vehicle ever landed on a comet.

“In light of the enthusiasm and fascination aroused by the discovery of NASA, “said Battiston,” we can say that the ExoMars mission will for the first time on the planet a drill capable of penetrating deep. It will go to take in the information that we know is rich in water, mostly ice: it will be interesting to study the composition and found traces of chemicals that can be connected to biological phenomena. “

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