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02/06/2003
Mars Express set to make European first
With final checks underway, the first venture to Mars by the European Space Agency (ESA) is due to launch later today.
Constructed on a shoestring budget, the spacecraft, which includes the British-built Mars lander Beagle 2, has been built in record time. But according to the ESA spacecraft is a cost-effective approach to the business of getting a lander onto the Red Planet.
Rudi Schmidt, Mars Express Project Manager, said: "With Mars Express, Europe is building its own expertise in many fields. This ranges from the development of science experiments and new technologies - new for European industries - to the control of a mission that includes landing on another planet. We have never done this before".
In all the project has taken four years to come to fruition and includes much use of established technology from the 24 contracted companies involved in the consortium, representing ESA’s 15 member states and the US.
Among the science projects, it is hoped that Beagle 2 will help scientists unravel the mystery of what happened to the planet’s water. Ground-radar will be used to probe the surface for signs of water reserves under the surface.
Mars Express will be launched later today at around 6.45pm (BST) on board a Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The mission consists of an orbiter and the Beagle 2 lander. Mars Express is a honeycombed aluminium box that measures 1.5 by 1.8 by 1.4 metres (excluding the solar panels), and weighs 1223 kilograms. The Beagle 2 lander will travel attached to one side of the spacecraft, folded up much like a pocket watch.
If the mission proceeds according to plan the spacecraft will enter Mars orbit in late December this year. Beagle 2 will then be deployed for a landing on the surface of Mars while the orbiter will continue to circle Mars.
Launch opportunities for Mars occur every 26 months when the planets are in close proximity in their respective orbits, but every 15 to 17 years the planets are particularly favourably aligned for a minimum boost, six-month, one-way trip to Mars.
(SP)
Constructed on a shoestring budget, the spacecraft, which includes the British-built Mars lander Beagle 2, has been built in record time. But according to the ESA spacecraft is a cost-effective approach to the business of getting a lander onto the Red Planet.
Rudi Schmidt, Mars Express Project Manager, said: "With Mars Express, Europe is building its own expertise in many fields. This ranges from the development of science experiments and new technologies - new for European industries - to the control of a mission that includes landing on another planet. We have never done this before".
In all the project has taken four years to come to fruition and includes much use of established technology from the 24 contracted companies involved in the consortium, representing ESA’s 15 member states and the US.
Among the science projects, it is hoped that Beagle 2 will help scientists unravel the mystery of what happened to the planet’s water. Ground-radar will be used to probe the surface for signs of water reserves under the surface.
Mars Express will be launched later today at around 6.45pm (BST) on board a Soyuz-Fregat rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.
The mission consists of an orbiter and the Beagle 2 lander. Mars Express is a honeycombed aluminium box that measures 1.5 by 1.8 by 1.4 metres (excluding the solar panels), and weighs 1223 kilograms. The Beagle 2 lander will travel attached to one side of the spacecraft, folded up much like a pocket watch.
If the mission proceeds according to plan the spacecraft will enter Mars orbit in late December this year. Beagle 2 will then be deployed for a landing on the surface of Mars while the orbiter will continue to circle Mars.
Launch opportunities for Mars occur every 26 months when the planets are in close proximity in their respective orbits, but every 15 to 17 years the planets are particularly favourably aligned for a minimum boost, six-month, one-way trip to Mars.
(SP)
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19 December 2003
Beagle 2 lander separates from orbiter module
The European Space Operations Centre has confirmed that the Beagle 2 lander successfully separated from the orbiter at around 11.15GMT on Friday December 19. The ESA announced that the Mars Express spacecraft had "flawlessly released" the Beagle 2 lander that it has been carrying since its launch on June 2 this year.
Beagle 2 lander separates from orbiter module
The European Space Operations Centre has confirmed that the Beagle 2 lander successfully separated from the orbiter at around 11.15GMT on Friday December 19. The ESA announced that the Mars Express spacecraft had "flawlessly released" the Beagle 2 lander that it has been carrying since its launch on June 2 this year.
07 January 2004
Mars Express fails to raise Beagle 2
Attempts by the Mars Express orbiter to raise the silent Beagle 2 lander have met with no success today, confirmed the European Space Agency (Esa) team in Germany.
Mars Express fails to raise Beagle 2
Attempts by the Mars Express orbiter to raise the silent Beagle 2 lander have met with no success today, confirmed the European Space Agency (Esa) team in Germany.
05 January 2004
Scientists hopeful of contacting Beagle
As the Mars Express orbiter nears its final low orbit trajectory around Mars, Wednesday January 7 marks what is considered to be the final chance to establish contact with the Beagle 2 lander.
Scientists hopeful of contacting Beagle
As the Mars Express orbiter nears its final low orbit trajectory around Mars, Wednesday January 7 marks what is considered to be the final chance to establish contact with the Beagle 2 lander.
24 May 2004
Organisational problems dogged Beagle 2 failure: report
The failure of the UK-led Beagle 2 mission to Mars was largely due to organisational problems, according to a report. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that there was "no single technical failure or shortcoming" unambiguously responsible, but a few "credible causes" for Beagle 2’s loss were highlighted.
Organisational problems dogged Beagle 2 failure: report
The failure of the UK-led Beagle 2 mission to Mars was largely due to organisational problems, according to a report. The European Space Agency (ESA) said that there was "no single technical failure or shortcoming" unambiguously responsible, but a few "credible causes" for Beagle 2’s loss were highlighted.
19 May 2003
UK's key role in ESA Mars mission hailed
UK industry and scientific know-how is playing a key role in the search for life on the red planet. Science Minister Lord Sainsbury today said that UK engineering and scientific expertise was essential to Europe's historic mission to find life on Mars.
UK's key role in ESA Mars mission hailed
UK industry and scientific know-how is playing a key role in the search for life on the red planet. Science Minister Lord Sainsbury today said that UK engineering and scientific expertise was essential to Europe's historic mission to find life on Mars.
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