European and Russian industrial activities and deliveries of the scientific payload. On 12 March 2020, it was announced that the second mission was being delayed to launch in 2022 due to the vehicle not being ready for launch in 2020, with delays exacerbated by travel restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic. On 28 February 2022, it was announced that the second mission launching in 2022 "was very unlikely" due to the sanctions on Russia in response to the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. On 17 March 2022, the launch of ExoMars in the 2022 launch window was abandoned, with the permanent suspension of the partnership with Roscosmos. Mission objectives The scientific objectives, in order of priority, are: to search for possible biosignatures of past Martian life. to characterise the water and geochemical distribution as a function of depth in the shallow subsurface. to study the surface environment and identify hazards to future human missions to Mars. to investigate the planet's subsurface and deep interior to better understand the evolution and habitability of Mars. achieve incremental steps ultimately culminating in a sample return flight. The technological objectives to develop are: landing of large payloads on Mars. to exploit solar electric power on the surface of Mars. to access the subsurface with a drill able to collect samples down to a depth of to develop surface exploration capability using a rover. Mission profile ExoMars is a joint programme of the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency Roscosmos. According to current plans, the ExoMars project will comprise four spacecraft: two stationary landers, one orbiter and one rover. All mission elements will be sent in two launches using two heavy-lift Proton rockets. The two landing modules and the rover will be cleaned and sterilised to prevent contaminating Mars with Earth life forms, and also to ensure that any biomolecules detected were not carried from Earth. Cleaning will require a combination of sterilising methods, including ionising radiation, UV radiation, and chemicals such as ethyl and isopropyl alcohol. (see Planetary protection). First launch (2016) Trace Gas Orbiter The Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) is a Mars telecommunications orbiter and atmospheric gas analyzer mission that was launched on 14 March 2016 09:31 UTC. The spacecraft arrived in the Martian orbit in October 2016. It delivered the ExoMars Schiaparelli EDM lander and then proceed to map the sources of methane on Mars and other gases, and in