Mars Express status for 01/15/2004 (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

15 January 2004

Mars Express Status Report

ESA's Mars Express spacecraft is currently in a near-final orbit around Mars
with a period of 10 hours. Flight controllers are now isolating the main engine,
which fired for the last time on 11 January, finishing its work on the mission
after performing flawlessly.

To complete the manoeuvre into its final operational orbit, Mars Express will
make a series of seven firings of its small thrusters, the first on 15 January
and the last on the 26 January. The final orbital period will be 7.6 hours.

All instruments have successfully been switched on, and have started to deliver
data (except for the boom deployment of the radar which is planned for April, in
accordance with the science planning of the mission).

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

Related articles

* Orbiter instruments
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...C75V9ED_0.html
* Up where he belongs: An interview with Martin Pätzold
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMZNOXLDMD_people_0_iv.html
* Chances of life are linked to water
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMN3AR1VED_index_0.html
* Water on early Mars?
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...K75V9ED_0.html

Related links

* Institut für Geophysik und Meteorologie
http://www.uni-koeln.de/math-nat-fak.../prueford.html