On Monday, the ExoMars 2016 probe was launched towards Mars in search of life. According to Reuters, this probe, which is part of the joint ExoMars program between Europe and Russia, began its seven-month journey from the Baikonur space station in Kazakhstan. The probe is set to investigate gases such as methane around Mars and also test new technologies for landing on the Martian surface. In late 2014, NASA's Curiosity rover discovered a burst of methane gas in the atmosphere of the planet. Methane is the same gas extracted from gas fields and is used as gas in homes, industries, and other sectors after refinement. Scientists believe that methane is produced by microorganisms that went extinct millions of years ago and that this gas accumulated beneath the surface of the planet. Rolf de Groot, an official at the European Space Agency, stated, 'Proving that life exists or has existed on Mars indicates that Earth is not unique in terms of life. This makes the existence of life in other parts of the universe very likely.' Another explanation for the presence of methane in the Martian atmosphere could be that this gas is produced by phenomena such as iron oxidation. The second part of the ExoMars mission will involve sending another probe to the surface of Mars in 2018. This probe will be the first to have the capability to move across the planet's surface and drill to collect and analyze material samples. De Groot mentioned, 'Radiation in space destroys any biological material. However, at a depth of two meters in the Martian soil, there may be places that are shielded from radiation.' In this context, the website Space Flight Now quotes Alvaro Gimenez, the head of science at the European Space Agency, stating, 'This technology development is very important. If you want to participate in future missions to Mars, you must prove your landing capability.' Landing on the surface of Mars is challenging, which has complicated nearly all previous efforts by Russian and American space agencies. The cost of the ExoMars missions, a joint project between Russia and Europe, is estimated to be around 1.3 billion euros. NASA currently has two active probes on the surface of Mars.
ExoMars 2016 Launched in Search of Life on Mars
The ExoMars 2016 probe was launched to Mars to search for signs of life and test new landing technologies. This joint mission between Europe and Russia aims to investigate methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could indicate past life. The mission is significant as it enhances our understanding of life's potential beyond Earth.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
The ExoMars 2016 probe was launched to Mars to search for signs of life and test new landing technologies. It aims to investigate methane in the Martian atmosphere, which could indicate past life on the planet.
- The mission is a joint project between Europe and Russia, costing approximately 1.3 billion euros.
- The probe will study methane, which may suggest the presence of ancient microbial life on Mars.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
The search for life on Mars has been a focal point of space exploration, particularly after discoveries of methane, which may indicate biological processes. The ExoMars program aims to build on these findings.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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