Second ExoMars mission postponed until 2020
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.029787
Sputnik International : Less than two months after the launch of the first part of ExoMars, the Russian space agency Roscosmos announced that the launch of the second component will be delayed by two years, until 2020. ExoMars is a joint mission of Roscosmos and the European Space Agency. The first part of the mission, which will reach Mars orbit in October, includes an orbiter and a lander for studying the Martian atmosphere. Part two includes a rover that will drill into the Martian surface to search for life and perform geochemistry research. According to the team running the rover mission, the decision to postpone the second launch was made because of problems with the contractors and delays in production of the mission’s scientific equipment.
