You're reading: Roscosmos: ESA does not blame Roscosmos for ExoMars 2016 problems

MOSCOW – The European Space Agency (ESA) has no questions for Roscosmos regarding the implementation of the Russian-European mission ExoMars 2016, Roscosmos said in a statement.

“Roscosmos has fulfilled all of its obligations within the Russian-European mission ExoMars 2016,” it said.

Roscosmos was responsible for launching the mission using a Proton launch vehicle (March 14, 2016) and two out of the four research instruments (ACS and FREND) of the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which are successfully functioning in Mars’s orbit, it said.

The ESA was responsible for the development and construction of the Schiaparelli module and should inform Roscosmos of the outcomes of an inquiry into its failed landing, the statement says.

Roscosmos referred to ESA Director-General Johann-Dietrich Worner as saying that the Schiaparelli failure has no relation to the work of the ESA’s Russian partners and that the ESA definitely expects Roscosmos to remain committed to implementing projects within joint missions, both automatic and manned ones.