EXOMARS - Le programme des deux missions à destination de Mars

Head of Russian Federal Space Agency and ESA held a bilateral meeting
:: 10/04/2011

October 4, the 62nd Congress of the International Space (g.Keyptaun, South Africa) met the head of Russian Federal Space Agency, Vladimir Popovkin and CEO of the European Space Agency (ESA), Jean-Jacques Dordain, which discussed the current state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in space.

During the conversation turned to the representatives of ESA, the Russian side with an invitation to participate in the "EkzoMars" due to problems encountered in implementing the project.

16:09 16/12/2011

Korolev (Moscow Region), December 16 - RIA Novosti. Federal Space Agency and European Space Agency (ESA) in February agree on the issues of Russia's participation in the program "EkzoMars" ("ExoMars"), told journalists the head of the Federal Space Agency Vladimir Popovkin.

"We have agreed in principle that we have something to say. We have been working closely in joint teams. The solution in terms of Russia's participation in the project" EkzoMars "will be accepted, I think, in February 2012. On Monday I will be meeting on this matter with the head of the European Space Agency Jean-Jacques Dordenom. Today I will talk on the phone with the head of NASA, Charles Boldenom the extent of participation of Russia in the "EkzoMarse," and this part should be complete, "- said Popovkin.

He added that Russia's participation meant not only as a "space cab", but also in terms of full implementation of the scientific program.

"These are our terms and conditions, at first glance, our partners have accepted them. Timing is very tight - it's 2016. Must be made so that if they put Russian instruments, then this should not lead to a postponement of the expedition launch at a later time," - Popovkin said.

According to head of Russian Space Agency, Russia is ready to provide the European Space Agency launcher heavy class "Proton". Earlier, the European side was turned down at harnessing to run mission to Mars, an American rocket "Atlas" and therefore was forced to turn to Russia.

"We have a" Proton "to start the mission" EkzoMars. "Furthermore, we have a lot of scientific equipment left from the Russian mission" Phobos-Grunt ", there are new developments. We are the whole range of our apparatus gave the Europeans and Americans, and in February, I think we all agree on this ", - concluded Popovkin.

A joint project ESA and NASA, "EkzoMars" originally intended to send the 2016 orbiter for Mars exploration and landing on the surface of the lander, and in 2018 - to send the rover. However, NASA because of lack of finance announced that reduces its participation in the project, in particular, the Americans said they did not give his support of "Atlas" to run. NASA scientists have linked the output of the program with an increase in spending on space telescope, "James Webb" (James Webb Space Telescope - JWST), which should be the heir to the "Hubble."

In turn, NASA stated that over the next few months, experts will discuss the details of the possible participation of the parties in the Martian project, then the U.S. space agency decides the parameters of their involvement.

As NASA said in a statement that any decision of the U.S. space agency on this subject will be based on the results of this discussion and the outcome of consideration of the budget for 2013 fiscal year, which will be adopted in February 2012.

Earlier, Deputy Director of the Institute of Space Research of RAS Oleg Korablev told RIA Novosti that Russian scientists are interested in joining the "EkzoMarsu" because it will speed up the promotion of national research programs of the planet, as well as reduce costs for these projects.

In particular, according to Korablev NASA output from the project almost entirely deprived of scientific instruments orbiter ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter. This probe is designed to search for gas in the Martian atmosphere, which are present in low concentrations - for example, methane and other gases that will allow scientists to draw conclusions about the geological and possibly biological activity on the planet. It was assumed that almost all the scientific instruments except one - the spectrometer NOMAD - will be provided by the American side.

The scientist noted in particular that the Europeans can not abandon the unit, as it will serve as a repeater for all future Mars missions. He added that Russian scientists could provide for their orbiter scientific instruments.

nikolai39 a écrit:Question : comme les Américains ne fournissent plus de lanceur, que deviennent les instruments qu'ils embarquaient ?

Paolo a écrit:je pense que si la NASA sort du projet ExoMars est morte. avec ou sans les Russes. Et je pense qu'on devra attendre pas mal d'années avant de revoir un rover sur Mars, après MSL...