Q&A with Michel Denis, ExoMars flight director

The first sign of trouble from Europe’s Schiaparelli lander came around the time the probe was supposed to jettison its parachute and fire thrusters to brake for touchdown on the vast equatorial plains of Mars, officials said Thursday.

A new satellite design will debut with Friday’s launch of a Soyuz rocket from French Guiana on a commercial mission to relay video, data and voice messages between the Americas and Europe.

Five European satellites packaged inside an aerodynamic fairing have joined a Soyuz rocket its launch pad in the French Guiana jungle for a roaring ride into orbit Friday.