ESA title

The mission

Since beginning science operations in 2004, Mars Express has provided breathtaking views of Mars in three dimensions. It has provided the most complete map of the chemical composition of the atmosphere, studied Mars’s innermost moon Phobos in unprecedented detail, and traced the history of water across the globe, demonstrating that Mars once harboured environmental conditions that may have been suitable for life.

 

  • Launch date: 2 June 2003
  • Arrival at Mars: December 2003
  • Status: In operation
  • Targets: Mars' atmosphere, surface and subsurface; Mars' moons Phobos and Deimos
Mars Express
Detail of the complex caldera of Olympus Mons
Science & Exploration

Olympus Mons - the caldera in close-up

11/02/2004 47197 views 133 likes
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Mars Express in precise pointing manoeuvre
Science & Exploration

What stops Mars Express getting lost in space?

29/01/2004 763 views 0 likes
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OMEGA image of the southern polar cap of Mars 18 January
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Mars Express sees its first water – scientific results

23/01/2004 1189 views 1 likes
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Picture taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) onboard ESA's Mars Express orbiter on 14 January 2004
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South of Valles Marineris

23/01/2004 1218 views 0 likes
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Mars Express HRSC image 14 January 2004
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First spectacular results from Mars Express

19/01/2004 4860 views 4 likes
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Gusev Crater
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Joining forces around Mars

16/01/2004 863 views 0 likes
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Valley networks suggest that rivers once flowed on Mars
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Science from orbit

15/01/2004 447 views 0 likes
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Artist's impression of Mars
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ESA’s Martian weather report

14/01/2004 2122 views 1 likes
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The ESOC control room
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Mars Express: no signal from Beagle 2 so far

07/01/2004 843 views 0 likes
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Mars Express making a close pass over Mars.
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Mars Express attempts to ‘talk’ to Beagle 2 – press briefing

06/01/2004 659 views 0 likes
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Mars Express orbiter's main engine firing for orbital adjustment
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Closing in on the Red Planet: Mars Express orbit lowered

04/01/2004 1992 views 2 likes
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ESA's Mars Express from equatorial to polar orbit on 30 December
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Mars Express scheduled orbit change

30/12/2003 4398 views 1 likes
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Scientists and engineers waiting to hear from Beagle 2

27/12/2003 374 views 0 likes
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Mars Express orbiter
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Mars Express orbiting precisely and safely

27/12/2003 1196 views 0 likes
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Jodrell Bank radio telescope
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Christmas vigil: listening for Beagle 2

26/12/2003 791 views 1 likes
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Mars Express orbiter's main engine is firing for Mars Orbit Insertion (MOI).
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Merry Christmas from Mars:Mars Express enters orbit around …

25/12/2003 5198 views 16 likes
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Advent calendar Mars Express
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Another message from Mars...

24/12/2003 295 views 0 likes
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Michael McKay at his console
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Beagle is GO for separation

22/12/2003 1461 views 0 likes
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Farewell, Beagle 2
Science & Exploration

Mars Express releases Beagle 2

19/12/2003 1902 views 3 likes
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Science & Exploration

Mars Express updates

19/12/2003 341 views 1 likes
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Mars Express in precise pointing manoeuvre
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Preparing for Beagle separation

18/12/2003 403 views 0 likes
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The Valles Marineris hemisphere of Mars
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Christmas on Mars: be there with ESA

15/12/2003 2082 views 0 likes
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The Mars Express spacecraft in orbit around Mars
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Mars is just around the corner

09/12/2003 1223 views 0 likes
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Mars from 5.5 million km, taken 1 December
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Planet Mars from 5.5 million kilometres

03/12/2003 3022 views 0 likes
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Artist's impression of Beagle 2 lander
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'Europe lands on Mars' - Media event at ESA/ESOC

25/11/2003 1408 views 0 likes
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Mars Express orbiter (artist impression)
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Going to Mars for Christmas

13/11/2003 1274 views 0 likes
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Artist's impression of Beagle 2 on Martian surface
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Are you ready for Mars?

06/11/2003 1644 views 0 likes
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Science & Exploration

Europe goes to Mars

08/10/2003 5390 views 11 likes
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Close encounters with Mars

25/08/2003 1475 views 0 likes
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Artist's impression of Mars
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Holiday weather on Mars

13/08/2003 3598 views 1 likes
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Mars Express Earth-Moon image
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Farewell to the Earth and the Moon - ESA's Mars Express suc…

17/07/2003 1249 views 0 likes
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The Beagle 2 lander
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Beagle 2 tests successfully completed

08/07/2003 811 views 1 likes
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Mars Express artist's view
Science & Exploration

ESA’s Mars Express first check-out nearly complete

02/07/2003 1822 views 1 likes
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Beagle 2 lander leaving the Mars Express orbiter
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Clamps away, Mars Express eases its grip on its lander

05/06/2003 837 views 0 likes
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Mars Express lift off
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Mars Express en route for the Red Planet

02/06/2003 3181 views 3 likes
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Soyuz/Fregat on the launch pad
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Ready for lift off!

02/06/2003 2136 views 0 likes
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Mars Express artist's view
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Mars Express — how to be fastest to the Red Planet

30/05/2003 1656 views 1 likes
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ESOC Main Control Room
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Ground control to Mars Express

30/05/2003 1246 views 0 likes
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Training for the fuelling operation
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Filling up for the long journey

26/05/2003 619 views 0 likes
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Mars Express mounted on the Fregat upper stage
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Follow the Mars Express launch from one of ESA’s establishm…

21/05/2003 871 views 0 likes
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Mars Express orbiter
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Mars Express – ESA sets ambitious goals for the first Europ…

20/05/2003 2803 views 2 likes
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Launch tower
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"All along the launch tower"

13/05/2003 1767 views 0 likes
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The Mars Express spacecraft in orbit around Mars
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ESA's Mars Express ready for launch

05/05/2003 2010 views 3 likes
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Final tests for Mars Express
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It all started with Gagarin

02/05/2003 546 views 0 likes
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ESA's Mars Express
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Media invitation from PPARC: The science of Mars Express an…

09/04/2003 711 views 0 likes
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Transporting Mars Express long distances requires an Antonov 124 plane
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"Leaving on a jet plane"

07/04/2003 1044 views 0 likes
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Final tests for Mars Express and Beagle-2 in Baikonur
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Preparing the Mars Express launch in Baikonur

20/03/2003 840 views 0 likes
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ESA's Mars Express
Science & Exploration

Mars Express leaves for Baikonur

19/03/2003 1473 views 1 likes
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How easily will spacecraft on Mars talk to Earth?
Science & Exploration

OK, our next caller is... from Mars!

25/02/2003 1620 views 2 likes
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Beagle 2 with shield in action
Science & Exploration

Landers feel the heat on space missions

30/01/2003 4284 views 16 likes
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