Mars Express artist view

The Beagle 2 lander is ejected from the orbiter. Mars Express will be the first flexible mission in the revised ESA long-term scientific programme and is planned to be launched towards Mars in June 2003 with a Soyuz/Fregat launcher. The spacecraft will carry a remote observation payload, as well as a lander communications package to support Mars lander mission from 2003 to 2007.