Uploaded March 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
To mark the launch anniversary, here are 5 things our Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) was made for.
1. TGO can detect gases at just a few parts per trillion. In 2021 it detected hydrogen chloride on Mars for the first time. Tracking these trace gases helps scientists understand how air circulates and how the atmosphere interacts with the Martian surface.
2. TGO tracks water vapour and clouds from the surface up to the edge of space, helping scientists understand Mars’ climate and how the planet lost its oceans over billions of years.
3. TGO’s high-resolution colour camera captures detailed images of the surface, revealing composition and topography. It even spotted NASA's Perseverance rover, along with its parachute, heat shield and descent module, in the Jezero crater region.
4. TGO relays information from rovers and landers on the Martian surface back to Earth. It supports NASA’s current surface missions and will also do the same for our Rosalind Franklin rover, targeted for launch in 2028.
5. Last October, the European orbiter turned its camera toward an interstellar visitor, 3I/ATLAS, as it swept past Mars. TGO’s observations helped @esa refine the comet’s trajectory through our Solar System by a factor of 10.
📹 European Space Agency (ESA)
#ESA #Space #Mars #TraceGasOrbiter
To mark the launch anniversary, here are 5 things our Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) was made for.
1. TGO can detect gases at just a few parts per trillion. In 2021 it detected hydrogen chloride on Mars for the first time. Tracking these trace gases helps scientists understand how air circulates and how the atmosphere interacts with the Martian surface.
2. TGO tracks water vapour and clouds from the surface up to the edge of space, helping scientists understand Mars’ climate and how the planet lost its oceans over billions of years.
3. TGO’s high-resolution colour camera captures detailed images of the surface, revealing composition and topography. It even spotted NASA's Perseverance rover, along with its parachute, heat shield and descent module, in the Jezero crater region.
4. TGO relays information from rovers and landers on the Martian surface back to Earth. It supports NASA’s current surface missions and will also do the same for our Rosalind Franklin rover, targeted for launch in 2028.
5. Last October, the European orbiter turned its camera toward an interstellar visitor, 3I/ATLAS, as it swept past Mars. TGO’s observations helped @esa refine the comet’s trajectory through our Solar System by a factor of 10.
📹 European Space Agency (ESA)
#ESA #Space #Mars #TraceGasOrbiter
