(Update) The European Space Agency (ESA) has confirmed that its Schiaparelli lander crashed into the surface of Mars on Wednesday after its parachute and heat shield failed to deploy properly during the descent. The agency released photos showing the lander's impact site and debris scattered around it, indicating that it may have exploded upon impact.

The photos, taken by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, show a dark spot surrounded by a bright halo at the lander's expected landing site in Meridiani Planum, a region of the planet known for its vast plains and craters. The bright halo is thought to be caused by dust and debris kicked up by the impact.

ESA officials said that the lander's descent trajectory was normal until about 1.4 kilometers (0.9 miles) above the surface when the parachute and heat shield failed to deploy. The lander then plummeted to the surface at a speed of about 300 kilometers per hour (186 miles per hour), causing it to crash and disintegrate.

The loss of the Schiaparelli lander is a setback for ESA's ExoMars mission, which aims to search for signs of past or present life on Mars. However, the agency said that the mission's main goals, including the successful deployment of the Trace Gas Orbiter, which is currently orbiting Mars, can still be achieved without the lander.

Here is a summary of the key points from the article:

- European Mars probe, Schiaparelli, crashed on Wednesday after parachute and heat shield failed.

- Photos show impact site and debris, suggesting possible explosion upon impact.

- NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took the photos.

- Descent trajectory was normal until 1.4 kilometers above surface when parachute and heat shield failed.

- Lander crashed at 300 kilometers per hour, disintegrating on impact.

- Loss is a setback for ESA's ExoMars mission but main goals still achievable.