Major Mars Express scheduled orbit change successful (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

30 December 2003

Major Mars Express scheduled orbit change successful

This morning, at 09:00 CET [0800 UTC], the first European mission to Mars
registered another operational success. The Mars Express flight control team at
ESOC prepared and executed another critical manoeuvre, bringing the spacecraft
from an equatorial orbit into a polar orbit around Mars.

All commands were transmitted to Mars Express via ESA's new Deep Space Station
in New Norcia, Australia. This morning, the main engine of Mars Express was
fired for four minutes to turn the spacecraft into a new direction, at a
distance of 188,000 kilometres from Mars and about 160 million kilometres from
Earth. On 4 January 2004, this new polar orbit will be reduced even further.

Fascinating ESA science mission ahead

In a polar orbit, Mars Express can now start to prepare its scientific
observation mission as planned, working much like an 'Earth-observation
satellite' but around Mars. From the second half of January 2004, the orbiter's
instruments will be able to scan the atmosphere, the surface and parts of the
subsurface structure of Mars with unmatched precision.

The MARSIS radar, for example, will be able to scan as far as four kilometres
below the surface, looking for underground water or ice. The High Resolution
Stereo Camera will take high-precision pictures of the planet and will begin a
comprehensive 3D cartography of Mars. Also, several spectrometers will try to
unveil the mysteries of Martian mineralogy and the atmosphere, as well as
influences from the solar wind or seasonal changes.

Mars Express closes in on Beagle 2 landing area

The change of orbit by the Mars Express orbiter will allow increasingly closer
looks at the Beagle 2 landing site, which measures 31 kilometres by 5
kilometres. In this narrowing polar orbit, the orbiter will fly directly over
the landing site at an altitude of 315 kilometres on 7 January 2004, at 13:13
CET [1213 UTC]. The reduced distance, the ideal angle of overflight and
originally foreseen communication interfaces between the 'mother' and 'baby'
will increase the probability of catching signals from the ground.

Ongoing European co-operation and international support

The Mars Express flight control team of ESA in Darmstadt, Germany, is in regular
contact with its colleagues of the Beagle 2 team and with NASA ground stations.
In addition, ESA receives regular support or offers of support from the Jodrell
Bank radio telescope in the UK, Westerborg telescope in the Netherlands,
Effelsberg telescope in Germany and Stanford University's telescope in the USA.
ESA is grateful for this spirit of dynamic international co-operation on its
first mission to Mars.

Next status report on the Mars Express mission

Comprehensive information is available on ESA'S Mars special pages at
http://mars.esa.int
or via the telephone info box on: 0049 6151 90 2609.

In the case of major news on the mission, the media will be informed immediately.

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 CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM4..._index_1.html]
ESA's Mars Express from equatorial to polar orbit on 30 December.

Credits: ESA 2003

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM4...html#subhead1]
Upcoming Mars Express flight orbits until 7 January, getting closer to the Red
Planet.

Credits: ESA 2003

[Image 3:
http://www.esa.int/export/esaCP/SEM4...html#subhead2]
Upcoming Mars Express flight orbits until 7 January, getting closer to the Red
Planet (perspective from a horizontal plane).

Credits: ESA 2003