The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter was launched from Kazakhstan to detect the atmospheric gases of Mars blasted off into space Monday morning.
Source : CNN
The mission is to seek evidence of methane and other atmospheric gases that could mean there's active biological life on Mars. The flight will take about seven months to reach the red planet.
During the joint mission by the European and Russian space agencies, the probe will circle Mars and measure tiny amounts of gases, such as methane -- a natural gas that is produced in great quantities on Earth. Scientists say the gases may be the waste of microbial beings on Mars.
#ExoMars - successful lift-off of #Proton-M. Some 80 German & international press keeping our experts busy at #ESOC pic.twitter.com/CchN6t2Wez— ESA Operations (@esaoperations) 14 Maret 2016
Other gases that will be measured include water vapour, nitrogen oxides, acetylene.
The methane could signal there's life on the planet.
"However, other purely geological processes, such as the oxidation of certain minerals, also release methane," the European Space Agency said on its website.
We go to #Mars because it's a great scientific & technical challenge! I talked today with media at #ESOC. #ExoMars pic.twitter.com/31VqFrMAMM— Jan Woerner (@janwoerner) 8 Maret 2016
The second phase of the mission -- set to launch in 2018 -- will send an ExoMars rover to the planet.
Source : CNN
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