Editing ExoMars (section)

=== 2016 first spacecraft launch ===
The spacecraft containing ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) and ''Schiaparelli'' launched on 14 March 2016 09:31 UTC ([[Livestream]] began at 08:30 GMT [03:30 AM EDT]).<ref name="NYT-20160314">{{cite news |last=Chang |first=Kenneth |title=Mars Mission Blasts Off From Kazakhstan |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/03/15/science/mars-mission-blasts-off-from-kazakhstan.html |date=14 March 2016 |work=The New York Times |access-date=14 March 2016}}</ref><ref name="ESA-2016">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Watch ExoMars Launch (March 14, 2016, 08:30 GMT) |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/Watch_ExoMars_launch |date=10 March 2016 |work=[[European Space Agency]] |access-date=10 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160311082709/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/Watch_ExoMars_launch |archive-date=11 March 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="LS-20160314">{{cite web |author=Staff |title=Live Video – ExoMars Launch (March 14, 2016, 08:30 GMT) |url=http://livestream.com/ESA/exomars |date=14 March 2016 |work=[[Livestream]] |access-date=10 March 2016}}</ref> Four rocket burns occurred in the following 10 hours before the descent module and orbiter were released. Signals from the Orbiter were successfully received at 21:29 GMT of the same day, which confirmed that the launch was fully successful and that the spacecraft was on its way to Mars.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries |title=ExoMars on its way to solve the Red Planet's mysteries |publisher=ESA |date=14 March 2016 |access-date=15 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161026085720/http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/ExoMars/ExoMars_on_its_way_to_solve_the_Red_Planet_s_mysteries |archive-date=26 October 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Shortly after separation from the probes, the [[Briz-M]] upper booster stage possibly exploded a few kilometers away, however apparently without damaging the orbiter or lander.<ref name="exploded booster">{{cite news |last=King |first=Bob |url=http://www.universetoday.com/128073/exomars-mission-narrowly-avoids-exploding-booster/ |title=ExoMars Mission Narrowly Avoids Exploding Booster |work=Universe Today |date=24 March 2016 |access-date=25 March 2016 }}</ref> The spacecraft, which housed the Trace Gas Orbiter and the ''Schiaparelli'' lander, took its nominal orbit towards Mars and was seemingly in working order. Over the next two weeks, controllers continued to check and commission its systems, including the power, communications, startrackers, and guidance and navigation system.<ref name="ThomsonMar2016">{{cite news |last=Thomson |first=Iain |url=https://www.theregister.co.uk/2016/03/26/exomars_probe_may_be_in_danger/ |title=ExoMars probe narrowly avoids death, still in peril after rocket snafu |work=The Register |date=26 March 2016 |access-date=26 March 2016 }}</ref>