The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Artist view of ESA's Mars Express probe.
Mars Express was launched at 17:45:46 UT, 2 June 2003, by a Soyuz FG-Fregat launcher. The Fregat upper stage then boosted the probe, consisting of the 1,223-kg orbiter carrying the 71-kg Beagle 2 lander, into a solar orbit toward Mars. Mars Express entered orbit around Mars on 26 December 2003.
Carrying seven experiments, the orbiter will conduct a one-martian-year survey of the planet in unprecedented high-resolution and provide a mineralogical map. It will also conduct a search for underground water using a radar able to identify subsurface structures up to 2 km deep. Moreover, a set of payload instruments will probe the atmosphere, map its composition and determine its circulation as well as its interaction with the solar wind.
Europe's first planetary mission, Mars Express was approved in 1997 as ESA's first 'flexible' science mission. Development was delegated to industry, with Astrium appointed as prime contractor in 1998.