ESA prepares for a human mission to Mars   Artist's impression - human mission to Mars Why is ESA participating in this study?     A visualisation of Mars, created from spacecraft imagery. ESA's first mission to the Red Planet is Mars Express, planned for launch in June 2003. It comprises an orbiter carrying seven scientific instruments to probe the planet's atmosphere, structure and geology, including a search for evidence of hidden water. The main spacecraft will also release the UK's small Beagle 2 lander to gather and test rock and soil samples on the surface. As well as its science objectives, Mars Express will also provide relay communication services between the Earth and landers deployed on the surface by other nations, thus forming a centrepiece of the international effort in Mars exploration. Mars Express is ESA's first 'Flexible' (F-class) mission. It is a pilot project for new methods of funding and managing ESA space missions, built more quickly and launched at a much lower cost than any previous mission of a similar nature. So exactly what kind of experiments are you looking for?     Within the Aurora Exploration Programme ESA is studying issues related to long-duration flights in deep space The concept sounds a bit like a reality TV show – is that a fair comparison?     The Concordia Station is a scientific base built in Antarctica by the French Polar Institute (IPEV) and the Italian Antarctic Programme (PNRA) What kind of people will you be looking for?     Artist's impression of a human mission to Mars. Release date: 25 February 2009