ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO)

Overview

The 2016 ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter is a spacecraft designed to search for signature gases in the Martian atmosphere. A key goal of this mission is to gain a better understanding of methane and other atmospheric gases present in small concentrations that could be evidence for possible biological or geological activity. From its approximately 400-km-altitude science orbit, the instruments onboard detect a wide range of atmospheric trace gases including methane, water vapour, nitrogen oxides, and acetylene with improved accuracy. The orbiter also serves as a data relay for the ExoMars rover and surface science platform operations on Mars.

Key facts

Payload

113.8 kg

Reach

—

Speed

—

Weight

4,332 kg

IP rating

—

Battery

—

Power

—

Autonomy

fully autonomous

Launch year

2016

Price

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Status

active