The hatch to the airlock opens, revealing a human figure encased in a white pressure suit. After a brief glance at the strange surroundings through his bowl-shaped visor, the ambassador from Earth gingerly steps outside and begins to descend the ladder. Within minutes, the visitor from another world reaches the bottom rung and prepares for a ‘giant leap’ – humanity’s first imprint in the pristine, orange sands that stretch as far as the eye can see. The human exploration of Mars has begun. Science fiction? At present, the answer is yes, but this fictional scenario may become a reality by the year 2030. In order to achieve such an ambitious target, ESA has introduced its new Aurora programme. This will eventually enable European astronauts to venture beyond Earth’s orbit to the Moon, Mars and beyond.
Beagle 2 delivery for integration on Mars Express
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. The British-led lander will be delivered to the prime contractor (Astrium SAS) in Toulouse,for final integration with the Mars Express spacecraft on 30 January 2003.
Driving force behind Mars Express
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. The unique way in which ESA drove the Mars Express project cut the amount of time from the original concept to actually putting contractors to work from the usual five years to just one year. Moreover, two years were shaved off the design and building phase – cutting it from the usual six to four years. However, there has been no compromise on the quality of the mission.
Ferrari red paint passes road test for trip to Mars
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. The sample of red paint is due to begin its trip to the Red Planet on-board the European Space Agency’s Mars Express spacecraft in May/June 2003.
See Mars Express before its departure to the Red Planet
Mars Express, to be launched in May-June 2003 on its six-month journey to Mars, is presently being put through a test campaign at INTESPACE, Toulouse, France. The spacecraft, which will be undertaking Europe’s first mission to the Red Planet, is to be presented at a special press event being held in Toulouse on 18 September. Media representatives are invited to INTESPACE on Wednesday 18 September to learn about the mission and attend a ceremony at which a container filled with Ferrari’s distinctive ‘Rosso Corsa’ red paint will be integrated with the spacecraft.
No place for life to hide from Mars Express
Of all missions sent to Mars only one, the Viking 26 years ago, has dared to search for life. Its only conclusive result was that finding proof of extraterrestrial life proved to be much harder than expected. Second attempts never followed. Until now. ESA’s Mars Express, the next mission to the Red Planet and the first European one, has an ambitious goal. To be launched in 2003, Mars Express will be the first spacecraft after Viking to search for direct and indirect evidence for past or present life on Mars. This time, scientists are equipped with more knowledge and insight in how to detect Martian life. The chances of success look very good.
Ferrari red paint competes for an extraordinary qualification
Ferrari has recently faced some tough challenges on the racetrack, but achieving the qualifications that will allow its famous red paint “Rosso Corsa” to go into space is another story altogether. In July, three test containers of Ferrari’s red paint “Rosso Corsa” arrived at the European Space Research and Technology Centre (ESTEC) in The Netherlands, in order to be tested in preparation for the journey to the Red Planet on-board Mars Express. Over the following weeks, the red paint sample, safely installed in a specially constructed glass globe 2cm in diameter, nicknamed “Fred”, and sunk in a specially designed fibreglass supporting block, has been undergoing a severe testing process.
Mars Express passes milestone with flying colours
As space engineers and scientists met last month for a final review of the Mars Express spacecraft design, the spacecraft itself was taking shape at the premises of Alenia, Torino, Italy. “Normally, we would have the critical design review (CDR) after tests of the spacecraft structural model (SM tests) have been completed. But because of the tight schedule for Mars Express, most of the review had to be completed early. We’ve done all the reviewing we can. A few items have to wait until after the SM tests,” says Rudi Schmidt, Mars Express Project Manager.
Postcard from Mars
When most people go on vacation, they want to forget all about their jobs. But ESA physicist-engineer Vladimir Pletser, who develops ISS payloads and organizes zero-gravity parabolic flights for the agency, is taking the ultimate working holiday. This week, he’s off to Mars. It’s not exactly Mars, of course. Manned missions to the Sun’s fourth planet – currently the brightest object in Europe’s evening skies – will have to wait a while yet. Instead, Pletser will be heading for the Arctic, where throughout the summer crews of scientists will spend ten-day stints in a cramped habitat that closely simulates a Mars lander.