Facts About Europe's Mars Mission
Posted on: Thursday, 25 December 2003, 06:00 CST
Facts about the Beagle 2 Mars lander and the Mars Express orbiter, the two spacecraft in Europe's first mission to seeks signs of life on the planet:
-EXPERIMENTS: Beagle has a robotic arm to take soil and rock samples, including a grinder to clean weathered surfaces and a drill to probe inside rocks. Also can heat samples and detect carbon dioxide. Two stereo cameras to provide 3-D image of surroundings. Other equipment will analyze composition of rocks, a range of sensors will detect Martian weather.
The high-resolution camera of Mars Express will map the planet's surface and mineral composition. Powerful radar to look for signs of underground water. Data relay for Beagle.
-SIZE AND WEIGHT: Without heat shield and outer shell for entry into Martian atmosphere, Beagle 2 is about 26 inches across - the size of an average bicycle wheel. With solar panels unfurled, it expands to about 75 inches. Weighs 143 pounds.
The longest side of the boxlike Mars Express is 5.9 feet. It has two wing-like solar panels. Weighs some 249 pounds.
-PROJECT COST: Europe's first Mars mission cost $370 million, considered relatively cheap.
-DURATION: Mars Express is expected to orbit for at least a Martian year, or 687 Earth days.
Related Articles
- Mars Express Captures Mountains On Mars
- Mars Rover Nears Martian Bowl Goal
- Roadway Express Adding Nearly 130 Jobs at Buffalo Operations
- Spirit Marks One Martian Year on Mars
- Spirit's Mars mission reaches 100 days
- Europe's Bid to Contact Mars Beagle 2 Probe Fails
- Nasa probe set for Mars landing as Beagle's handlers carry on listening
- Scientists wait for Beagle 2 to call home: Mars missions will continue despite fears over fate of UK project
- Controllers Reposition Mars Express Spacecraft
- After the Beagle has landed: how Britain will bring home a piece of Mars
 |
 |
User Comments (0)
RSS Feeds