Explore The Outerspace: Get a Good Look at the ExoMars' First High-Res Photos [Watch Inside]
People of the planet Earth received some exciting news as Russia and Europe's latest satellite destined on planet Mars sent back its first images of the red planet. The images are as bewildering as they can get.
Last month (October 19th, to be exact), two of the European Space Agency (ESA) spacecraft finally arrived at Mars just in time. Unfortunately, one spacecraft tragically crash-landed on Mars' surface.
ESA scientists are still unsure of what exactly happened to the spacecraft. On the other hand, the second spacecraft made it into Mars' orbit.
Immediately, the ExoMars orbiter went to work and snapped photos of the red planet to be sent back to earth. These pictures were taken by an onboard camera named Color and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS).
Along with CaSSIS, there are also other high-tech instruments within ExoMars which help finish the job. CaSSIS's only job is to look around, capture photos to see any signs of life.
The other instruments include the Trace Gas Orbiter Instruments with NOMAD and ACS sensors. These sensors will record a detailed inventory of the red planet's atmospheric gases.
Another instrument, FREND, is used to sense any hydrogen near the surface. This will help scientists determine whether there are any traces of water on the planet. The data produced will also be used as a stand-in for hydrated minerals. The main goal is to catalog traces of any gas such as methane, and of course, to find any possible indication of another lifeform.
All instruments passed the test and successfully provided results for ESA. Just last week, the ExoMars orbiter sent its first images back on planet Earth. The pictures were beyond anything any of the scientists expected.
The camera's principal investigator from the University of Bern, Switzerland, Nicholas Thomas, released a statement saying: "We saw Hebes Chasma at 2.8 meters per pixel."
"That's a bit like flying over Bern at 15,000km/h and simultaneously getting sharp pictures of cars in Zurich," Thomas added.
Watch the video below.
