Monday, March 14, 2016

Match ExoMars, Europe to Mars in search of life – ANSA.it

It ‘started the European ExoMars mission, which leads Europe on Mars to hunt for life: the Proton rocket carrying the probe and the lander was launched from the Russian Baikonur (Kazakhstan). It begins a unique mission organized by space agencies of Europe (ESA) and Russia (Roscosmos), and to which Italy participates with Italian Space Agency (ASI) and the industry, represented by the group Finmeccanica and Thales Alenia Space Italy.

The Tgo probe signal (Trace Gas Orbiter) was acquired by the Italian Space Agency’s base (Asi) in Kenya, Malindi, the Italian 22:28, just over an hour from the separation of the vehicle of the ExoMars mission from the upper stage of the launcher. And ‘the most awaited moment because it means that The probe is in the correct trajectory to Mars . From Malindi the signal has been sent to Germany, the European Space Agency center (ESA) in Darmstadt, who took control of the mission.

That just left is the first phase of the ExoMars mission, while the second phase is expected in 2018 and will have to bring to the surface a Martian rover equipped with a drill that will pierce the soil up to two meters deep. The Proton is carrying into orbit Tgo probe (Trace Gas Orbiter), which will remain in the ‘orbit of Mars for seven years, and the lander Edm (Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator), the vehicle dedicated Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli, who It must demonstrate the ability of Europe to rest on the soil of Mars. News on the mission are expected to Italian 21,15, when the two vehicles will separate from the last stage of the Proton; 22,28 is expected to acquire the signal from the base of ASI Malindi: will be the confirmation that the probe and the Schiaparelli module are in the desired position to reach Mars. The trip will last about seven months and the arrival in the orbit of Mars is scheduled for October 16, when the Schiaparelli module will pop out to get down on the planet, October 19.

Have a good trip ExoMars!
(source: TV ASI – Italian Space Agency WEB TV)

ExoMars, for Battiston (ASI) is a historic moment
“a perfect launch, a historical moment, a milestone” for the president of the Italian Space Agency (ASI), Roberto Battiston the ExoMars mission launched today from the Russian Baikonur opens a new page in the history of space exploration. “Start – he added – a series of missions that will lead Europe to answer a crucial question: are we alone in this great universe, or the planet where we are going there are forms of life?” The ExoMars mission, born from the collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency Roscosmos, it will go to look for traces of life on Mars. “But first of all you have to wait for our entry into orbit,” he said Battiston referring to the moment when the probe signal is received at the Earth, around the Italian 22,30. Only then can it be said that the mission is on the right track, that in October will bring it to reach the red planet. And referring to the role of ASI and Italian industry in the mission, noted that ExoMars “see Italy lead Europe to the first landing on Mars.”

Prette ( Tas-I), the expression Italian intelligence
“the one that will land on Mars is the ultimate expression of Italian intelligence.” To say it is the President of Thales Alenia Space Italy, Elisio Prette Giacomo, who assisted in the Altec headquarters in Turin, featuring the Baikonur in Kazakhstan to launch the ExoMars mission. In the mission there is a lot a lot of Italian and Turin, thanks to the role of Thales Alenia Space. “We are an integrated company – underlines Prette – the team that designed the mission is based on Torino and many tools have been designed and manufactured in Rome, Aquila and Milan. We are a team and as such we like to be represented. We a company that makes quality employment – still remembers -: 70% of our employees are university graduates and 30% of skilled technicians, we are one of the companies that try to keep the brains in Italy. Working here and, in general, in the field space becomes the story. ” A history which today gave the president Prette “a thrill. This year – says – many launches have failed. That launch is a critical step outside and in this case, also, it was a special launch because there ‘ was a window, the risk could be to have to wait another two years “.

Cheli, mission is historic moment for the space
” the space is made by a succession of historical moments: this is one of those and another will be in seven months, at the time of landing. ” This morning the Altec Turin to witness live the launch of the ExoMars mission was also one of the greats of Italian space, Maurizio Cheli, the first Italian astronaut to have the role dißmission specialistßdurante laßmissione STS-75 Space Shuttle Columbia, he attended also Umberto Guidoni. “The main thing about this mission – remember – it’s going to explore more of the atmosphere of Mars and especially its soil. It is an extremely important mission because there is now a chance to go to Mars with a proper scientific instrumentation to prepare the the ground for a possible human landing. it would be nice – ends – you can see an effort that will allow one day to go to something much further low-Earth orbit. The role is increasingly important. “

to Moretti Finmeccanica at the forefront
Finmeccanica in the forefront of the ExoMars mission, which leads Europe to Mars in search of life, so the managing director and CEO of Finmeccanica, Mauro Moretti, said in a statement that the launch marks the beginning of the mission to the red planet that brings the most advanced technologies produced by the Italian. “Finmeccanica is at the forefront of this great challenge with all its technical, women and men who are daily engaged in the research and technology development, real engine of progress of our country,” noted Moretti. The role of the group in the ExoMars mission “is of great importance: our laboratories originate many of the technologies used in the program, such as sophisticated drill that will start in 2018 to dig with his spearhead the Martian soil in search of water and traces of life, “he said. “Finmeccanica – he concluded – is involved in the 60 most important space programs. After the success of the Rosetta mission, which saw Finmeccanica technologies to land on a comet, we are ready to bring ExoMars our knowledge on the red planet.”

Rome greets launch to Mars from Piazza del Popolo
So much emotion, then a long applause: the right 10,31, a hundred people in a piazza del Popolo warmed by the sun and connected directly with the Russian Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, through a large screen installed for the occasion, accompanied the launch of the Russian rocket Proton for the journey that will lead Europe with the first ExoMars probe on Mars. So, between faces visibly excited students, tourists and Roman citizens, present in the historic square of the capital after a countdown from chills began the ExoMars mission was born from the collaboration between ESA, the European Space Agency and the Russian agency Roscosmos with the objective “to seek traces of life on Mars.” A ‘special mission’ that sees Italy in the front row with the Italian Space Agency (ASI), the first contributor of the mission with 350 million Euros and also to the Italian industry, with Thales Alenia Space (Thales-Finmeccanica) that he led the development of the modules in its factory in Turin. Simone Pirotta ASI, Piazza del Popolo has no doubts: “It ‘s the culmination of a long process of which we are proud for a great and effective participation of Italy, but it’ s also the beginning of a new era of exploration the increasingly global nature, man’s journey to Mars unlike that on the Moon will be the result of extensive international cooperation. “

” ExoMars is the Europe that we love. it ‘s’ Italy we are proud of @ @ finmeccanicait asi-space “. Said Prime Minister Matteo Renzi on Twitter.

At the launch events are planned with live broadcast and guests both in Turin, at the Altec, both in Rome, at the installation dedicated to the mission in Piazza of the people. Born from the collaboration between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian Roscosmos, the ExoMars mission is organized in two phases: the first will start this morning with the probe and the Schiaparelli form to collect data on possible indicators of the presence of life, present or past, such as methane, and to demonstrate Europe’s ability to land on Mars. The probe will allow communication with the Earth is at this early stage, both in the second phase, expected in 2018 with a rover that will travel to Mars and it will pierce the soil to a depth of two meters with an Italian drill.

It ‘a mission in which Italy plays a leading role. The Italian Space Association (ASI) is in fact the first contributor of the mission, in which he participates with 350 million euro, representing 32% of the total value of 1.3 billion for both phases. also recognized the competence of the Italian industry, with Finmeccanica and Thales Alenia Space Italy (Thales-Finmeccanica), which ESA has entrusted the leadership of both missions and the overall responsibility for all elements. Also important is the scientific contribution of Italy, with INAF (INAF), University of Padua and the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN).

“We are alone in the universe? How has the life? these are the questions that want answering the ExoMars mission, “he told ANSA the director general of the European Space Agency (Esa), Jan Woerner.

In this hunting life on the red Planet Italy is in the front row: the Italian Space Agency (ASI) is the first contributor of the mission with 350 million euro, representing 32% of the total value of the mission, to 1.3 billion. The Italian industry, with Thales Alenia Space (Thales-Finmeccanica) has integrated both vehicles at its plants in Turin and is the leader of the companies that have contributed to the mission.

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