The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) was planned to look for trace gases such as methane, water vapor, oxides of nitrogen, and acetylene in the Martian atmosphere. These gases may give evidence for biological or geological activities on Mars.
The ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO or ExoMars Orbiter) is a joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Russian Roscosmos project that launched an atmosphere study orbiter and the Schiaparelli demonstration lander to Mars as part of the European-led ExoMars assignment. The Trace Gas Orbiter released the Schiaparelli lander, which landed on the ground owing to a premature deployment of the parachute. The orbiter began aerobraking to reduce its original orbit of 200 km by 98,000 km. Aerobraking came to an end when the last rocket fire resulted in a 200 by 1,050 km orbit.
One critical objective is to have a better understanding of methane and other trace compounds detected in the Martian environment that could suggest life activities. The mission will continue in 2022 with the Kazachok landing and the Rosalind Franklin rover, which will seek biomolecules and biosignatures; the TGO will serve as the communication connection between the ExoMars lander and rover, as well as other Mars surface probes and Earth.
