For the first time since that start of the Space Activities in OIP Sensor Systems, hardware fully developed by OIP will set ‘foot’ on a non-terrestrial surface, i.e. the surface of Mars! So far, approximately 10 ton of terrestrial hardware is ‘resting’ on Mars. From October 2016 onwards 600kg will be added by the Schiaparelli, Exomars’ Entry, Descent & Landing Demonstration Module, from which 616g were prepared in the OIP cleanrooms.

OIP is proud to announce today’s successful launch of two instruments, the NOMAD spectrometer and the DECA camera, onboard the ExoMars 2016 mission from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

From beginning of March till end of August, a Mars Expo is organized in the Euro Space Center by the Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy, which played an important role in Mars research activities. Looking back to past missions and research is one way, but the eyes are facing the future where an exciting mission is about to start. The ExoMars 2016 mission, a joint endeavor between ESA and Roscosmos, will depart on March 14th 2016 to the Red Plate, carrying Belgian technology to perform pioneering science: the NOMAD spectrometer. NOMAD is a 3-channel spectrometer suite to conduct a spectroscopic survey of Mars’ atmosphere in the UV, visible and IR spectral ranges, in search for traces of life. The expo was officially opened on March 10th.