Summary reader response draft 3

 ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter

The main goal of the ExoMars mission is to find signs of life on Mars. This is done by searching for trace gases on Mars atmosphere. Trace gases like methane and water vapour are gases which “provide evidence for possible biological or geological activity on Mars” (NASA Science, 2019). The key trace gas of interest is methane as most of the methane on earth is produced by living things or geological activity, and this may also be true on Mars.

The TGO has four sets of science instruments to help achieve its goal. Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS), Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS), Fine Resolution Epithermal Neutron Detector (FREND) and Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD).

NOMAD combines three spectrometers, two infrared and one ultraviolet, to perform high-sensitivity orbital identification of atmospheric components, including methane and many other species, via both solar occultation and direct reflected-light nadir observations. ACS complements NOMAD by extending the coverage at infrared wavelengths. CaSSIS will image and characterise features on the martian surface that may be related to trace-gas sources. FREND will map subsurface hydrogen to a depth of one metre to reveal deposits of water-ice hidden just below the surface along with locations identified as sources of the trace gases.


The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) fulfilled its goal of getting data on trace gases like methane, ethane, ethylene and phosphine on Mars atmosphere in order to find out if life is present on Mars.

The data collected by the TGO supplements data gotten from previous missions as the TGO’s instruments are more precise and is able to get more accurate data. In the article “Has Mars’ methane gone missing?” it mentions that the TGO’s “instruments are more sensitive to tiny amounts than any of the instruments used previously”. Data obtained from past rovers and spacecraft shows that methane is present on Mars, but it is not known where the methane comes from. Previously, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Curiosity rover took readings at Gale crater and reported that there was methane present. However when the TGO went around Gale crater its readings show that methane was not present. With the data gotten from the TGO, it is found that “if methane is released in this way, it must be sporadic” ( The European Space Agency, 2021).

The TGO has also successfully gotten data on three other trace gases: ethane, ethylene and phosphine. Ethane and ethylene are present for a short while after methane is broken down by sunlight, which shows that if detected by the TGO, it must mean that it has been released by a recent or ongoing process. Phosphine on earth is mostly biologically produced and if it is present on Mars it could mean a possible sign of life. Data from the TGO showed no presence of any of these three gases on Mars atmosphere.

The TGO has helped to get more information on the trace gases present on Mars atmosphere and these data has helped in learning more about Mar’s environment and would also complement future data collected on Mar’s surface by the ExoMars rover Rosalind Franklin which is due for launch in 2022.

The ExoMars mission is a success as it has achieved its main goal by gathering more information about trace gases like methane, ethane, ethylene and phosphine on Mars atmosphere and continues to do so even now.

 

References

The European Space Agency. (20 July 2021). ExoMars orbiter continues hunt for key signs of life on Mars.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/ExoMars_orbiter_continues_hunt_for_key_signs_of_life_on_Mars.

 

Calandrelli,E. (21 October 2016). A failed lander and a working orbiter – everything we know about ESA’s ExoMars mission. TechCrunch.

https://techcrunch.com/2016/10/20/failed-robot-and-working-orbiter-what-we-know/

 

Anderson,P. (2 January 2019). Has Mars’ methane gone missing?. EarthSky.

https://earthsky.org/space/esa-exomars-trace-gas-orbiter-missing-methane/

 

NASA Science. (25 April 2019). ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter / Schiaparelli.

https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/exomars-trace-gas-orbiter-schiaparelli/in-depth/

 

The European Space Agency. (24 May 2017). Schiaparelli landing investigation completed.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Exploration/ExoMars/Schiaparelli_landing_investigation_completed

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