ESA - Robotic Exploration of Mars - Loading the Antonov 124 at Baikonur

After the launch of the ExoMars 2016 spacecraft - the Trace Gas Orbiter and the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator module - all of the remaining supplies and equipment had to be returned to Europe.

This picture shows an Antonov transport plane being loaded at the Yubileiny airfield of the Baikonur cosmodrome.

The large Spacebus 4000 transport container, which was originally used for transporting the Trace Gas Orbiter to the cosmodrome, was a tight fit when loading it through the nose of the Antonov - there were only a few centimetres clearance.

This was the first of three Antonov flights that transported the ExoMars equipment and supplies from the cosmodrome back to Europe.