European Mars lander’s fate unclear, ‘not good signs’
In this artist impression provided by the European Space Agency, ESA, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter , TGO, right, and its entry, descent and landing demonstrator module, Schiaparelli, center, approaching Mars. The separation is scheduled to occur on Sunday Oct. 16, 2016, about seven months after launch. Schiaparelli is set to enter the martian atmosphere on Oct. 19, 2016 while TGO will enter orbit around Mars. The probe will take images of Mars and conduct scientific measurements on the surface, but its main purpose is to test technology for a future European Mars rover. Schiaparelli’s mother ship will remain in orbit to analyze gases in the Martian atmosphere to help answer whether there is or was life on Mars. (ESA ATG/medialab via AP)
DARMSTADT, Germany (AP) — A senior European Space Agency official says that the signal from the experimental Schiaparelli probe cut off before its landing on Mars, which he says isn’t a good sign.
Paolo Ferri, ESA’s head of operations, said the signal “stopped shortly before landing.”
He cautioned that more analysis of the data was needed to understand what had happened to the experimental lander during Wednesday’s descent.
He says it is too soon to jump to conclusions but “it’s clear that these are not good signs.”
He said that an update is expected on Thursday.
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