Switzerland contributes research instrument and various other technologies to ESA’s missions to Mars

BERN, 11-Mar-2016 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Space Agency (ESA) will be launching the first of its two missions to Mars on 14 March.

The 2016 Mission’s primary scientific objective is to determine in detail the Martian atmosphere’s composition, in particular the amount of trace gases present, and to acquire high-resolution stereo images of the planet’s surface from orbit. Furthermore, the mission will serve to demonstrate and test key technologies needed to successfully land on the Red Planet. Switzerland is contributing a research instrument and various other technologies to this project.

Address for enquiries

Oliver Botta
Scientific Advisor Space Transportation and Exploration
State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation SERI
Space Office
T +41 58 462 99 67
oliver.botta@sbfi.admin.ch

Publisher

State Secretariat for Education, Research and Innovation
http://www.sbfi.admin.ch