ExoMars timeline

Preliminary Design Review (PDR) for Rover elements (including the instruments, the Analytical Laboratory Drawer, the structure and mobility system)

Orbiter Avionics Test Bench delivery

Joint start of the design phase (Phase B) of the 2018 mission by ESA and Roscosmos

Declaration of Intent signed by ESA and Roscosmos for cooperation on the ExoMars programme

The detailed design, manufacturing, integration and verification phase for the 2016 Orbiter was initiated

Successful independent assessment of the 2016 mission schedule

Preliminary Design Review of the DREAMS payload - kick off

ESA – Roscosmos report completed, confirming bilateral cooperation on the ExoMars programme

Completion of study on possible cooperation with the Russian Federal Space Agency

ESA-NASA Joint Exploration Working Group studies to establish an architecture for the joint single rover mission in 2018

Start of Implementation Phase (phase C/D) for ExoMars 2016 mission

Selection of the ExoMars 2016 Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module payload

Financial proposal for the next phases of the programme (C/D/E1) received by ESA

Release of Announcement of Opportunity for ExoMars Entry, Descent and Landing Demonstrator Module Science

Industrial negotiations for the present phase of the programme (B2X2 - design phase) have been completed

Release of Announcement of Opportunity for ExoMars 2016 Orbiter Instruments

The ESA Council gave the go-ahead to proceed with the implementation of the ExoMars Programme consisting of two missions launching in 2016 and 2018.

Plymouth meeting at Directorate level deciding on a way forward for ExoMars in collaboration with NASA. ExoMars became a programme with two launches (2016 and 2018).

Payload Confirmation Review #2 (PCR2). This led to the descoping of the Humboldt (GEP) payload as well as several Rover instruments, in order to refocus the mission on seven "core instruments" best addressing the ExoMars mission objectives.

Interim Preliminary Design Review. The goal of this review was to assess the technical status of the project in preparation of implementing the changes in the programme.

Ministerial Conference. As the level of subscriptions for ExoMars did not reach the amount needed for the full Enhanced ExoMars baseline, the project entered a reformation phase including payload descoping and setting up of an international collaboration scheme.

Tender Evaluation Process. ESA evaluates the technical, managerial, schedule and financial proposals leading to the Tender Evaluation Board (TEB) meeting just before Christmas.

Release of spacecraft Request for Quotation. ESA releases the Request for Quotation (RFQ) to the Prime Contractor, Thales Alenia Space, Italy, and its industrial consortium for the combined spacecraft, that is, the Carrier Module (CM), the Descent Module (DM), the Rover Module (RM) and the Rover Operation Centre (ROC).

Implementation Readiness Review (IRev). The IRev results at the Programme Board for Human spaceflight, Microgravity and Exploration (HME-PB) confirmed the selected 'Enhanced Baseline' configuration.

Start of Phase B1 Bridging. The System Requirement Review Board concluded that additional time is needed to consolidate the ExoMars mission concept and the consequential spacecraft and rover design. A continuation of the Phase B1 is agreed with industry until a time, when the Implementation Review confirms the mission configuration and the European industrial consortium can firmly commit to the required performance, the mission schedule and a corresponding financial envelope.

Start Phase B1. ESA awards a design phase contract to Thales Alenia Space, Italy, for Phase B1. Award of major subcontractors for Rover Module (Astrium UK), Rover Operations Control Centre (ALTEC), Lander (Astrium GmBH), EDLS (TAS-F), and Carrier Module (TAS-F).

In the framework of its Payload Confirmation Review (PCR), ESA requested instrument proposals for a possible geophysics and environment station to be accommodated in the lander.

Decision of Council to start the ExoMars development and exploitation phase with an initial B1 Phase, studying three mission architectures including an ESA orbiter. The Phase B1 to be completed with an Implementation Review.

Two parallel ExoMars Rover/Pasteur Phase A studies concluded, addressed accommodation of the instruments and integrated design with the ExoMars Rover.

Selected proposal science teams to converge on a list of instruments for the ExoMars Rover. Technical readiness assessed by ESA. Pasteur list of instruments presented to the Exploration Programme Advisory Committee (EPAC) and the Aurora Board of Participants (ABP).

Phase A2 Studies of an Exobiology Payload and Rover for the ExoMars mission. Call for Proposals for an ExoMars Pasteur payload issued and from 50 instrument proposals 22 were studied.

Establishment of the European Space Exploration Programme, Aurora.

A Call for Ideas to the international scientific community requesting missions to be developed under the new programme recommends, as higher priority, a Mars exobiology mission.

ESA studies, at pre-Phase A level, a concept for an exobiology analytical laboratory: the Exobiology Multiuser Facility (EMF).

The Red Book report, put together by a team of science advisors, recommends that ESA pursue an exobiology mission using a rover able to access the subsurface in combination with a capable analytical laboratory.