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Europe goes to Mars - preparations are well under way

10 April 2001

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Mars Express - Orbiter (Artist's impression)

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Mars Express is the first flexible mission in the revised ESA long-term scientific programme which was launched towards Mars in June 2003 with a Soyuz/Fregat launcher.

Credits: ESA-D. Ducros

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ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, carrying the Beagle 2 lander, was launched on 2 June 2003, arriving in the vicinity of Mars in December. The separation of Beagle 2 from Mars Express took place flawlessly on 19 December. The satellite continued its mission with its successful insertion into a Mars orbit on 25 December, the day on which Beagle 2 was due to land.

The first radio contact with Beagle 2 was expected shortly after the scheduled landing time but no signal was received.

Credits: ESA/Denman productions

Instrument and Principal Investigator

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Mars Express industrial partners