Mission control awaits impact
Mission control operators use these computers at the European Space Agency's mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany, to monitor Schiaparelli on its way to Mars.
ESA's Schiaparelli Team
The team of scientists who worked on the Schiaparelli lander crowds around the monitors at ESA's space operations center in Darmstadt, Germany, while waiting on a signal from Schiaparelli.
Good Luck Peanuts
ESA provided "good luck peanuts" to the ExoMars crew to keep them fueled for the duration of the mission's arrival at Mars.
Anxiously waiting for a signal
ESA's mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany, fell dead silent as everyone anxiously awaited a signal transmission from ExoMars after the spacecraft 's orbit insertion.
Orbit achieved!
By the time the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter had entered Mars' orbit, ESA lost contact the the spacecraft flew behind Mars. At 12:34 p.m. (18:34 CEST) on Oct. 19.
A good sign
Michel Denis, Flight Operations Director for ExoMars, could barely contain his enthusiasm when ESA received the signal from ExoMars.
High-five, ESA!
The ExoMars 2016 mission control room in Darmstadt, Germany was ecstatic to hear from ExoMars after a long, gut-wrenching wait.
ExoMars Frog
This stuffed frog joined ESA at the mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany, on the day of Schiaparelli's planned landing.
The ExoMars experts
ESA officials pose for a photo at the ESOC mission control center in Darmstadt, Germany on Oct. 19 before the anticipated landing of the Schiaparelli spacecraft. From left to right: Mission Director Don McCoy, Operations Manager Daniel Firre, Flight Operations Director Michel Denis.
Schiaparelli wakes up
The faint line on this screen signaled to ESA that the Schiaparelli entry, descent and landing demonstrator module had woken up at 9:43 a.m. EDT (15:43 CEST) on Oct. 19.
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