News archive

News archive

MArs Express is moving into position to begin its search for the Beagle 2 lander.
Published: 6 January 2004
In the morning of 19 December, ESA's Mars Express flawlessly released the Beagle 2 lander. Beagle 2 is now on its journey towards the surface of Mars, where it is expected to land early in the morning of 25 December.
Published: 19 December 2003
As the time for Beagle 2 separation approaches a representation of the landing site is available for download. Fly over the surface of Mars and explore the planet's terrain and features in detail.
Published: 12 December 2003
On 1 December Mars Express captured its first image of its final destination with the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC). This astonishing image shows the red planet with just over 3 weeks to go until orbit insertion.
Published: 3 December 2003
ESA Mars Express probe is scheduled to arrive at Mars at Christmas : the Beagle 2 lander is expected to touch down on the surface of the Red Planet during the night of 24 to 25 December.
Published: 26 November 2003
The Hubble Space Telescope captured this stunning image of Mars just 11 hours before its closest approach to Earth.
Published: 27 August 2003
ESA's Mars Express first check-out nearly complete
Published: 3 July 2003
Delay in testing the Beagle 2 probe on Mars Express
Published: 24 June 2003
Mars Express now 1 million kilometres from Earth
Published: 6 June 2003
Europe's first mission to the Red Planet, continues its successful mission with another successful 'high-risk' post-launch milestone. Mars Express engineers breathed a sigh of relief this morning at the European Space Operations Centre (ESOC), in Germany.
Published: 5 June 2003

The European Mars Express space probe has been placed successfully in a trajectory that will take it beyond the terrestrial environment and on the way to Mars - getting there in late December 2003.

Published: 3 June 2003
On 2 June 2003, the first European mission to Mars will be launched. It will also be the first European mission to any planet. Mars Express has been designed to perform the most thorough exploration ever of the Red Planet. It has the ambitious aim of not only searching for water, but also understanding the 'behaviour' of the planet as a whole. However, the most ambitious aim of all may be that Mars Express is the only mission in more than 25 years that is daring to search for life.
Published: 20 May 2003
Just before midnight on 2 June 2003 (23:45 local time, 19:45 CEST), a Soyuz rocket operated by Starsem will lift off from the Baikonur Cosmodrome, and Mars Express will be on its way. The spacecraft was given the green light to launch following a successful flight readiness review on 3 May 2003.
Published: 5 May 2003
When ESA's Mars Express reaches the Red Planet in December 2003, there will be a drill on board its Beagle 2 lander. This drill will dig into the surface to take samples of the Martian rocks. Who would imagine that the creativity of an enthusiastic dentist is behind a 'cosmic' drill?
Published: 8 April 2003
It is midnight on 1 January 2004 and you want to send a greeting on your mobile phone to a friend. Sorry, the line is too busy, try again later. If you think you are alone with this problem, you are wrong. Space agencies have had to work out ingenious solutions to prevent similar 'engaged, call later' tones from happening on Mars. For the first time, there will be seven spacecraft on the Red Planet at the same time. Will they all be able to 'phone home'?
Published: 24 February 2003
Space is certainly a cold place, but spacecraft have to face exteremely high temperatures when they are exposed to the Sun's radiation. However, there are other extreme situations in which spacecraft are subject to tremendous heat. ESA's spacecraft must endure temperatures from hell...
Published: 29 January 2003
The Mars Express prime contractor and the Mars Express ESA Project Manager have agreed the final delivery date for the Beagle 2 Mars lander with the Beagle team.
Published: 9 December 2002
The Ferrari Red Paint will not be the only thing breaking all speed records when it hurtles towards the Red Planet on-board the Mars Express spacecraft in 2003. The spacecraft itself has already broken some speed records of its own. Mars Express is the fastest-built satellite of its type in the history of space engineering.
Published: 21 November 2002
The symbol of Ferrari's extraordinary success, its red paint 'Rosso Corsa', has been given the green light to go into space, as it was declared officially 'space qualified' at a formal ceremony held today at INTESPACE in Toulouse, France. A specially constructed glass globe, known as FRED, containing the sample of paint was then integrated on to the Mars Express spacecraft, in readiness for the fastest journey Ferrari has ever made.
Published: 18 September 2002
28-Mar-2024 14:36 UT

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