ESA News
http://www.esa.int

25 December 2003

Mars Express status report ...

As of 0200 CET [0100 UTC] Mars Express is 23700 km from Mars. At 0231 CET [0131
UTC] Mars Express is scheduled to commence a half-hour slew manoeuvre that uses
its reaction wheels to line up its main engine for Mars Orbit Insertion.

The manoeuvre will mean the spacecraft's high-gain antenna is no longer pointing
at Earth and so telemetry will be lost until 0900 CET.

More about ...

* Europe goes to Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html
* Mars Express overview
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120379_index_0_m.html
* Christmas on Mars: be there with ESA
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM06Q274OD_index_0.html
* Getting it right: An interview with Rudi Schmidt
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMDILXLDMD_people_0_iv.html
* Testing times: An interview with Con McCarthy
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMZTOXLDMD_people_0_iv.html
* A giant step for Europe: An interview with Michael McKay
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMZSOXLDMD_people_0_iv.html

Related links

* Beagle 2 lander homepage
http://www.beagle2.com

IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM6..._index_1.html]
Mars Express is checking its attitude and distance from Mars.