Mars Express

Also known as MEX

European Mars orbiter

AI overview

Mars Express is a spacecraft operated by the European Space Agency that orbits Mars and studies the planet from space. It matters because it helps scientists understand Mars' geology, atmosphere, and potential for past life by gathering detailed images and data about the Red Planet.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Key facts

Mission type: Mars orbiter
Operator: ESA
Cospar id: 2003-022A
Website: exploration .esa .int /mars
Mission duration: Elapsed: 23 years and 1 day since launch 22 years, 5 months and 9 days at Mars
Launch mass: 1,123 kg
Dry mass: 666 kg (1,468 lb)
Power: 460 watts
Launch date: June 2, 2003, 17:45 ( 2003-06-02UTC17:45Z ) UTC
Rocket: Soyuz-FG / Fregat
Launch site: Baikonur 31/6
Contractor: Starsem
Reference system: Areocentric
Periareion altitude: 298 km (185 mi)
Apoareion altitude: 10,107 km (6,280 mi)
Inclination: 86.3 degrees
Period: 7.5 hours
Spacecraft component: Mars Express

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Mass: 71
Orbital period: 7.5
Official website: cosmos.esa.int/web/mars-express
Image: Mars Express illustration highlighting MARSIS antenna.jpg

Show 6 more facts

Commons category: Mars Express
UTC date of spacecraft launch: 2003-06-02
orbital eccentricity: 0.571
periapsis: 298
apoapsis: 10107
orbital inclination: 86.3

Sources (7)

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Article

ESA insignia (2020s)

Mars Express is a space exploration mission by the European Space Agency (ESA) exploring the planet Mars and its moons since 2003, and the first planetary mission attempted by ESA.