ESA's Missions to Mars. There are many reasons to explore the other planets and the smaller bodies in our Solar system. Studying these may actually give us answers on questions about the history of our own Earth. Whereas stars other than the Sun are too far away to reach them, man-made space probes can travel throughout our solar system.

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The Red Planet has always been a source of fascination and intrigue. Its surface features have captured the imagination of science fiction authors and inspired scientists as well.
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Plans for colonising Mars have existed for decades. HOwever, the Martian surface is a hostile environment but, maybe, this wan't always th case. Scientist speculate that primitive organisms such as microbes may have existed on Mars, perhaps billions of years ago.
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Planetary missions haven' detected any sighs of life so far. But spacecraft which have looked closely at the cratered, rustcolored surface with it s mountains and planes, detected strong evidence that at one time there has been an elixir of life on Mars: water in the liquid phase. Maybe many million years ago, rivers may have flowed over tyhe Martian surface.
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A new chapter in the exploration of Mars will soon begin. In June 2003 a Soyuz Fregat rocket will launch a European spacecraft form Baikonur. Aboard the Ru