Americans are participating in several ways in the European Space Agency’s first mission to Mars, launched today from Baikonur, Kazakhstan. “The exploration of Mars is an international adventure,” said Dr. Cathy Weitz at NASA Headquarters, Washington, D.C. “Our rover missions have key participants in Europe, and there are U.S. scientists on the teams for every instrument on Mars Express.” Weitz serves dual coordinating roles as project scientist for NASA’s participation in Mars Express and as program scientist for the Mars Exploration Rovers.