OREANDA-NEWS. January 29, 2016. ExoMars is a joint Russian-European Mars exploration project that includes missions in 2016 and 2018. The Russian contribution to the scientific components of ExoMars-2016 will make it possible to conduct a number of unique scientific experiments and lay the groundwork for future projects to explore the solar system and outer space.

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The directive was prepared by the Federal Space Agency in keeping with the Law of the Russian Federation on Space Activity and Government Resolution No. 394 of 8 April 1999, On the Use of Military Space Systems and Complexes to Provide Space Services.

The directive approves an array of measures to ensure the launch of the ExoMars-2016 research spacecraft (hereinafter referred to as the spacecraft) of the European Space Agency (ESA) from Baikonur Cosmodrome. It authorises, in particular, the provision of services using the assets of the Russian Defence Ministry, the legal protection of state interests regarding the results of intellectual activity used in launching the spacecraft and granting foreign specialists access to installations related to the launch.

ExoMars is a joint Russian-European Mars exploration project that includes missions in 2016 and 2018. The ExoMars-2016 mission includes the use of an orbiting module and a demonstration landing module, both developed by the ESA.

The ExoMars-2016 spacecraft was built by Thales Alenia Space Italia (Italy) under contract with the ESA. Once orbited, it will be included in the ESA’s register. The spacecraft will be launched by a Proton-M launch vehicle with a Briz-M upper stage.

The launch of the ExoMars-2016 spacecraft with a Proton-M rocket and the provision of Russian scientific instruments will help further strengthen Russia’s position in the global space services market, increase the volume of extrabudgetary funding and investment in the development of Russian space infrastructure, secure contracts for Russian companies and expand space cooperation. The Russian contribution to the scientific components of ExoMars-2016 will make it possible to conduct a number of unique scientific experiments and lay the groundwork for future projects to explore the solar system and outer space.