Robot explorers all set for Mars tryst: ESA

Europe was poised Tuesday to place a paddling pool-sized lander on Mars and a gas-sniffing craft in its orbit as part of a mission with Russia to scour the Red Planet for signs of life. High-stakes manoeuvres Wednesday should see the Trace Gas Orbiter (TGO) enter a gravity loop around our planetary neighbour, while a lander dubbed Schiaparelli makes a scorching, supersonic dash for its surface. Commands for the TGO's orbit insertion were successfully uploaded on Tuesday, the European Space Agenc