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
Go to topicMars, the mysterious red planet, has attracted wide public interest for over a century. This wide-ranging documentary includes NASA Mariner 4 images of Mars from 1965, the mystique of the pyramids and fluvial erosion channels, and the potential of a European contribution to a manned Mars mission. There is a lengthy animation section outlining some future possibilities. Video includes:
00:07 Mars And The Pyramids Of Elysium – start
00:12 In 1887 Italian astronomer Giovanni Schiaparelli turned his telescope towards planet Mars
00:30 He concluded that there could only be intelligent live on Mars. This started a legend of Mars
01:15 In 1898 H.G. Wells wrote “The war of the Worlds” with animation of the war
02:16 J.F. Kennedy and Lyndon B Johnson and John Glenn
02:22 On 1 Nov 1962 the Russians launched spacecraft Destine to discover Mars. Nikita Krushow. The mission failed. In 1964 NASA tried the same but also failed.
02:43 On 14 July 1965 NASA Mariner 4, the first spacecraft to obtain and transmit close range images of Mars. Animations and images.
03:55 Illustration of spacecraft structure in space.
04:07 Richard Nixon vetoed the idea of a space station.
04:12 George Bush liked the idea.
04:24 ESA HQ and Aerospatiale buildings. ESA Space Station and Microgravity, Aerospatiale, MBB/ERNO, Alenia Spazio and British Aerospace began to look a man missions to Mars in study “Marsemi”
05:00 Illustration of planetary orbits and getting to Mars is not easy. Earth and Mars have different orbits around the Sun. Mars orbit lasts 687 days. Venus can be used as a gravitational trampoline.
5:42 “Marsemi” study overview
6:47 What it takes to get to Mars: animated video. Illustration of spacecraft which can be used to go Mars, and how it goes there, around Venus, arriving to Mars.
8:04 The Excursion Vehicle lands on Mars, with help of large parachutes
9:34 Rover drives over the Martian surface
10:17 Orbiter survey Mars.
10:31 The Excursion Vehicle takes off after about one months and re-unite with the Orbiter.
10:38 The crew returns to the Return vehicle and begin their travel home to Earth
10:42 Soil samples from Mars returns from the polar parameter of Mars contains primitive organisms
10:53 Second step in the “Marsemi” study is to return to Mars with a cargo vehicle etc. and a base is constructed on Mars surface, and exploration of Mars.
12:02 Next step in the “Marsemi” study includes the study of the Mars moons. Years indicated for this are in 2069.
12:41 Animated images of Mars surface
14:13 Imaginary future large spaceship towards Mars, and the construction of village on Mars
15:42 ESA astronauts on Mars
15:46 The end