January 19 - Volga-Dnepr Airlines has operated three AN-124-100 cargo flights for Bollore Logistics, carrying equipment and materials for the ExoMars space exploration programme that aims to discover any traces of life on Mars.
On behalf of Thales Alenja Space Italia, Volga-Dnepr flew the cargo from Turin, Italy to Kazakhstan's Baikonur Cosmodrome via Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport.
The consignment included the entry, descent and landing demonstration module (EDM), as well as the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO), which will be launched into space in March 2016. In total, Volga-Dnepr flew 20 containers, including two high cube containers, loose cargo and a satellite container.
ExoMars is a joint programme between the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Russian space agency, Roscosmos. The 2016 mission aims to reach Mars in October and land a probe on the planet.
