Tgo

TGO most commonly refers to the Trace Gas Orbiter, a European Space Agency Mars orbiter launched as part of the ExoMars program in 2016. It reached Mars orbit in late 2016 and remains in operation, serving as both a scientific observatory and a communications relay for future missions.

Scientific goals and instruments: The primary objective is to detect and characterize atmospheric trace gases, including methane, to understand Martian atmospheric chemistry and assess potential geologic or biologic sources. The orbiter carries the Atmospheric Chemistry Suite (ACS) and the Nadir and Occultation for MArs Discovery (NOMAD) spectrometers, which measure atmospheric composition. It also hosts the Colour and Stereo Surface Imaging System (CaSSIS) for high-resolution imaging of the surface, enabling context for atmospheric data.

Operations and significance: TGO acts as a data relay to support landers and rovers; it monitors seasonal and spatial variations in the atmosphere. Its findings have constrained methane abundance and clarified the complexity of Martian atmospheric processes, and the mission continues to yield datasets used by researchers worldwide.

Other uses: TGO is an acronym used in various contexts unrelated to space exploration; this article focuses on the Trace Gas Orbiter.