A.S.I. - Agenzia Spaziale Italiana - The road to Space goes through Italy.

Main Theme Mars Exploration
Mission Responsibility ESA
Launch Date November-December 2013
End of Mission January 2016
Current phase B2-Advanced C/D
Website http://www.esa.int/esaMI/ExoMars

Description
Within the framework of the AURORA programme, the EXOMARS mission planned for a 2013 launch involves the release of the LANDER unit on Mars' surface. The ROVER vehicle will then separate from the LANDER unit.

The scientific payload is located in part on the Lander (experiments that do not require mobility and targeted for the most part at Exobiology) and in part on the Rover (experiments that require mobility, the Geophysical and Environmental Package). The Rover is equipped with a system for gathering samples up to 2 metres under the Mars' surface.

Scientific Objectives
The main scientific objectives of the mission are to search for traces of past and present life on Mars, the geochemical characterization of the planet, knowledge of the Martian environment and its geophysical aspects and the identification of possible risks for future human missions. The relevance of the technological objectives of the mission should also be underscored. They mostly include the testing of key technologies for planetary exploration such as the entry into the atmosphere system, descent and landing (EDL--Entry, Descent, and Landing), horizontal mobility (rover) and vertical mobility (drill), all in preparation for the MSR (Mars Sample Return).

Italian Contribution
With regard to Italy, the instruments proposed with an Italian PI and which have been selected by ESA are as follows:
- XRD (X-Ray Diffratometer) for mineral analysis (L. Marinangeli Università di Chieti and Pescara, Thales Alenia Space-I);
- MIMA (Martian Infrared Mapper) for analyzing atmosphere and meteorological on-ground conditions  (G. Bellucci INAF/IFSI Rome, SELEX GALILEO);
- MA_MISS (Mars Multispectral Imager for Subsurface Studies) spectrometer for the analysis of geological and biological evolution of the Martian subsoil (A. Coradini INAF/IFSI, Rome, SELEX GALILEO);
- MEDUSA (Martina Environmental Dust Systematic Analyser) detector for analyzing water vapour and atmospheric dust (L. Colangeli INAF/OAC Naples, SELEX GALILEO).

Moreover, the Italian scientific community has participated in the development and execution of the following experiments:
- IRAS (Ionizing Radiation Sensor) characterization of radiation in the Martian environment (DLR, Germany; Università di Perugia);
- WISDOM (Water Ice and Subsurface Deposit Observation on Mars)  radar for detecting water under Mars' surface (CETP/IPSL-France; Università Roma Tre-Roma);
- LARA (LAnder RAdioscience experiment), radio-science for the internal mineralogy of Mars (Royal Observatory Belgium; Università di Bologna);
- DESCENT SCIENCE, modelling of the Martian atmosphere using the data gathered by sensors during the descent of the lander on Mars' surface (CISAS- Università di Padova).

International Agreements
Instrument Multilateral Agreement Among The European Space Agency, The Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, The Centre National D’Etudes Spatiales, The National Space Institute of the Technical University of Denmark, The Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt E.V., The Ministerio de Educacion y Ciencia, and The Science and Technology Facilities Council for the ExoMars Mission (signed at ASI on 05/05/08).