Abstract. The INTEGRAL satellite was successfully launched from Baikonur on 17 October, 2002. INTEGRAL is an observatory for gamma-ray astronomy. The goals are to provide unprecedented high resolution imaging capability for unambiguous identification of gamma ray sources and high energy resolution for line spectroscopy. This paper summarises the actual orbital evolution based on the first 8 months in orbit and provides a status of the on-board limiting life resources. The paper describes the measured in-orbit performance of the INTEGRAL satellite and summarizes the applicable operational constraints for the science user community.

The ExoMars Mission is the first ESA led robotic mission of the Aurora Programme approved by the ESA Council at ministerial level on 6 December 2005 and combines technology development with investigations of major scientific interest. ExoMars will search for traces of past and present life, characterise the Mars geochemistry and water distribution, improve the knowledge of the Martian environment and geophysics, and identify possible surface hazards for future human exploration missions. ExoMars will also validate the technology for safe Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) of a large size spacecraft on Mars, the surface mobility and the access to subsurface. The ExoMars project is presently undergoing its B1 phase with Alcatel Alenia Space-Italy as Industrial Prime Contractor. The challenges of the missionThe Exomars mission presents a number of unique technological and programmatic challenges to the European space community; the following mission objectives represent new achievements for Europe:landing of a large spacecraft on Mars deployment of a Rover on the Mars surface drilling of soil samples from under the Martian surface (this was never achieved even by NASA), and analysis of the samples for identification of possible traces of life achievement of a very high degree of sterilisation of the complete landing spacecraft. The complete sterilisation is necessary in order to avoid the contamination of the Martian samples by terrestrial micro-organisms. The spacecraft and the mission planningThe mission baseline, set for the beginning of the B1 phase and subject of this paper, foresees the launch of a Composite Spacecraft, usually identified as the Composite, by means of a Soyuz 2-1b launcher lifting from Kourou in 2011, with back up in 2013. The Spacecraft is composed of a Carrier and a Descent Module Composite (DMC). The DMC includes the Descent Module and the Rover, carrying the Drill system and the Pasteur Payload instruments. The transfer to Mars will last two years, and the arrival at Mars will be planned such as to avoid the so called Global Dust Storm season. The Descent Module will then separate from the Carrier and will enter the Mars atmosphere, descend and land on the surface: aerodynamic braking, parachutes and airbags techniques will be employed during these phases. Then, the Rover with its payloads will egress from the lander and will perform the scientific exploration mission during six months, with the possibility to extend the exploration for six more months. The data relay to the Earth will be provided either by the NASA Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, or by a European orbiter which is being studied as an alternative mission option. MISSION DESCRIPTION Launch and Transfer To MarsThe mission baseline, set for the beginning of the B1 phase and subject of this paper, foresees the launch of a Composite Spacecraft, usually identified as the Composite, by means of a Soyuz 2-1b launcher lifting from Kourou in 2011, with back up in 2013. The Composite will be made of a Carrier and a Descent Module Composite...

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