This artist's impression provided by the European Space Agency, ESA, shows the Schiaparelli module with thrusters firing. ( ESA ATG-medialab M.Thiebaut / The Associated Press ) A full-sizedmodel of the European ExoMars entry, descent and landing module, Schiaparelli, with its parachute deployed. ( REUTERS ) This handout picture released on October 16, 2016 by the European Space Agency (ESA) shows planet Mars as seen by the webcam on ESAs Mars Express orbiter, as another mission, ExoMars, is about to reach the Red Planet. ( AFP/GETTY IMAGES )DARMSTADT, GERMANY—A senior European Space Agency official says that the signal from the experimental Schiaparelli probe cut off before its landing on Mars, which he says isn’t a good sign. Landing a spacecraft on Mars is notoriously difficult and several past missions have failed, including the European Space Agency’s previous attempt in 2003 with the rover Beagle 2.

Source: thestar October 19, 2016 14:14 UTC