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| | | | | | | | Article Images |  |
Mars Express operations
| | | | The mission
| | Artist view of ESA's Mars Express probe.
Mars Express was launched at 17:45:46 UT, 2 June 2003, by a Soyuz FG-Fregat launcher. The Fregat upper stage then boosted the probe, consisting of the 1,223-kg orbiter carrying the 71-kg Beagle 2 lander, into a solar orbit toward Mars. Mars Express entered orbit around Mars on 26 December 2003.
Carrying seven experiments, the orbiter will conduct a one-martian-year survey of the planet in unprecedented high-resolution and provide a mineralogical map. It will also conduct a search for underground water using a radar able to identify subsurface structures up to 2 km deep. Moreover, a set of payload instruments will probe the atmosphere, map its composition and determine its circulation as well as its interaction with the solar wind.
Europe's first planetary mission, Mars Express was approved in 1997 as ESA's first 'flexible' science mission. Development was delegated to industry, with Astrium appointed as prime contractor in 1998.
Credits: ESA - D. Ducros | |  |  | |
| | | | The Flight Control Team
| Michel Denis is SOM for Mars Express.
Credits: ESA-J.Mai/juergenmai.com | | | | |
| | | | | About the same time as Earth and Mars make their
closest approach in more than 60 000 years, ESA's Mars Express
passes the halfway mark of its journey, as regards distance.
Credits: ESA 2003. Illustration by Medialab. | | | | |
| | | | | Beagle 2 leaving Mars Express and entering the martian atmosphere.
Beagle 2 will descend to the surface, entering the
atmosphere at more than 20 000 km/h. A heat-resistant
front shield will protect it as friction with the
upper atmosphere slows it down.
Credits: Illustration by Medialab, ESA 2001 | | | | |
| | | | | | | | The ground stations
Cebreros, New Norcia
| ESA's new 35-metre deep-space dish antenna, located at Cebreros, near Avila, Spain, is undergoing final acceptance testing.
Credits: European Space Agency/ESA | | | | |
| | | | Ground segment & mission control system
| This mission uses SCOS-2000, the European standard mission control system developed at ESOC.
Credits: ESA | | | | |
| | | | The platform and payload
| Mars Express spacecraft.
Clockwise (starting at front):
- high-gain antenna
- spacecraft subsystems
- Beagle 2 lander
- orbiter instruments
- folded solar panel
- spacecraft subsystems
- CENTRE: propellant tanks
Credits: Illustration by Medialab, ESA 2001 | | | | |
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| | More information Mars Express overviewMars Express in-depthMars Express Science Operations Centre Images, animations Ground stations New Norcia - DSA 1Cebreros - DSA 2NASA Deep Space NetworkLaunch vehicle Soyuz Mars Webcam Related video Related NASA's participation in Mars ExpressBeagle 2: lessons learned and the way forwardMars Express (Wikipedia)
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