Schiaparelli - Part of the ExoMars Joint ESA & Roscosmos Mission Launches Soon.

[Bradyns]

[t]http://i.imgur.com/2NanMy2.jpg[/t]

Live Stream:
[URL]http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/Watch_ExoMars_launch[/URL]

[QUOTE]The ExoMars 2016 mission consists of the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and an entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, known as Schiaparelli.

TGO will make a detailed inventory of Mars’ atmospheric gases, with particular attention to rare gases like methane. There have been tentative and fleeting detections of methane on Mars since 2003, which implies that there is an active, current source. By monitoring its geographical and seasonal dependence, TGO will help to determine whether the methane stems from a geological or biological source.

TGO will also image the martian surface, and search for water ice on and just below the surface of the planet.

Schiaparelli will test key technologies in preparation for ESA’s contributions to subsequent missions to Mars.

The orbiter will also act as a communications satellite for present and future missions to the Red Planet.

ExoMars is a joint endeavour between ESA and Russia’s Roscosmos space agency.

Media Kit:
[URL]http://exploration.esa.int/mars/57558-exomars-2016-media-kit/[/URL][/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]It will take 10hours and 45minutes to separate the craft from the launch vehicle.
[URL]http://blogs.esa.int/rocketscience/2016/03/13/why-exomars-ride-to-space-takes-the-time-it-does/[/URL][/QUOTE]

15minutes until stream starts.

[editline]14th March 2016[/editline]

Steam's live.
This MC is awful, she was awful with Rosetta as well.

[Download]

Jesus, that missile looks like it was pieced together using scrap. The middle section also looks like it was gaffer taped together.

[Bradyns]

[QUOTE=download;49929422]Jesus, that missile looks like it was pieced together using scrap. The middle section also looks like it was gaffer taped together.[/QUOTE]

[QUOTE]Russian heavy lift Proton launch vehicle.[/QUOTE]

It's no Delta IV Heavy, but it works.

[editline]14th March 2016[/editline]

25minutes until launch.

[helifreak]

Launch video quality looks like it was shot on a Russian dashcam.

[Bradyns]

[QUOTE=helifreak;49929607]Launch video quality looks like it was shot on a Russian dashcam.[/QUOTE]

Now you see why people praise NASA and SpaceX.

Can't believe MECO / First Stage Separation occurs at Max-Q though.. that's just nonsensical!

[DrLuke]

[QUOTE=Bradyns;49929618]Now you see why people praise NASA and SpaceX.

Can't believe MECO / First Stage Separation occurs at Max-Q though.. that's just nonsensical![/QUOTE]

Welcome to russia space program

[Antianan]

[QUOTE=Bradyns;49929618]Now you see why people praise NASA and SpaceX[/QUOTE]
Because of their hi-res launch videos?

[Bradyns]

[QUOTE=antianan;49929843]Because of their hi-res launch videos?[/QUOTE]

High resolution videos with on-screen telemetry.
The rocket itself streams videos and allows viewers to see stage separation events, and the separation of the spacecraft.

Even Shuttle launches had the underbelly cam that showed the centre-stage separation.

[Sableye]

[QUOTE=Bradyns;49930143]High resolution videos with on-screen telemetry.
The rocket itself streams videos and allows viewers to see stage separation events, and the separation of the spacecraft.

Even Shuttle launches had the underbelly cam that showed the centre-stage separation.[/QUOTE]

NASA has a tradition of putting cameras everywhere on launch vehicles because data(!) The Soviets and consequently Russian space program didn't

[OvB]

If the only justification for cameras on rockets was "because it's awesome" I would be a-okay with it and would want more.