ExoMars 2016 Mission – Trace Gas Orbiter and Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module. Photo: ESA

[Via Satellite 11-18-13] Telespazio VEGA Deutschland, a subsidiary of Telespazio (Finmeccanica/Thales), has increased its involvement in the ExoMars mission. The company has been awarded a further work order by the European Space Agency (ESA) under the Ground Data Systems Frame Contract (GFC8). Following the recent contract for the ExoMars Mission Control System (MCS), Telespazio VEGA Deutschland has now been selected to develop the Operational Simulator for the ExoMars 2016 mission. The 2016 mission consists of a Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and an Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstration Module (EDM). Thales Alenia Space is the prime contractor responsible for the ExoMars spacecraft in Europe.

The ExoMars Simulator development, worth more than a million euros, started in July 2013 and is scheduled for completion within two years. The simulator will support the operations team in the testing of the ExoMars ground infrastructure, including the Mission Control System, and validation of the operational procedures and databases. Toward the launch of the mission in 2016, the simulator will serve to train the Flight Control Team through an intensive simulation campaign at ESA’s Space Operations Center.