Page 58 - (DK) Eyewitness - Mars

Europe’s Mars Express

The European Space Agency (ESA) launched its first
Mars mission in June 2003. Mars Express lifted off
from Kazakhstan’s Baikonur Cosmodrome on a
Russian Soyuz/Fregat launcher. The spacecraft
consisted of an orbiter and a lander. The lander,
Beagle 2, had objectives that included high-resolution
photography, mineralogical mapping, and study of
the atmosphere. Beagle 2 was to study geology and
geochemistry, and was DESCENT THROUGH THE ATMOSPHERE
Beagle 2 lander’s heat shield glows in this
equipped to look for painting of its descent toward Isidis
Planitia. In the actual mission, no signals
evidence of past life. were received from Beagle, which was
Unfortunately, soon after declared lost.
its release on December
19, Beagle 2 stopped
sending signals. The
lander was presumed
lost, but the orbiter’s
advanced scientific
instruments transmitted EXPRESS AND BOOSTER
invaluable data. Mars The Soyuz launch rocket has fallen
away, and Mars Express is “parked”
Express Orbiter found in orbit around the Earth. Next,
evidence of water ice and the upper-stage Fregat booster
rockets—at the bottom of the
past water activity. spacecraft—will fire to send
Mars Express on its way to Mars.

SOYUZ GETS READY IN ORBIT
The Soyuz launcher rocket is readied for Mars Express, at right, as it appears with
liftoff at the Baikonur launch pad. the 130-foot (40 m) antennae booms
Russian space technology was employed unfurled. These antennae are for MARSIS
by ESA to propel Mars Express toward (Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and
Mars. During its six-month journey, the Ionosphere Sounding) instruments, which
spacecraft flew at a velocity of 6,710 mph can study the planet’s crust as deep as
(10,800 km/h). 3 miles (5 km). Extended
antenna
IN SEARCH OF WATER
MARSIS radar waves penetrate the
crust to analyze various types of
material. The echoes that bounce
back reveal information about the
composition of the crust’s top level.
A prime objective is
to find liquid water
deep inside.

MARSIS
antenna boom

Mars crust

Possible
water
reservoir

5