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 topicAfter a journey of nearly seven months, ESA's Mars Express will reach its destination on Christmas eve. Seven scientific instruments onboard Europe's Martian satellite will then perform a series of remote sensing experiments designed to shed new light on a planet named after roman god of war.
Mars Express - Search for Water and Life on Mars
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After a journey of nearly seven months, ESA's Mars Express will reach its destination on Christmas eve. Seven scientific instruments onboard Europe's Martian satellite will then perform a series of remote sensing experiments designed to shed new light on a planet named after roman god of war. Mars Express will circle the red planet once every 6.7 hours in an elliptic orbit with a high point of more than11000 kilometres. It will use 3 D imagery to discover more about the surface and geology of Mars. Using radar beams, its instruments will penetrate beneath the surface, searching for underground water or waterice.It will also analyse and determine the atmospheric circulation and composition to build an accurate picture of Martian meteorology and climate.
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The Scientist Jean-Pierre Bibring of the French Institute for Space Astrophysics near Paris developed OMEGA, a spectrometer, which will analyse the Martian Atmosphere and surface.
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