images

Mars Express artist's view

by

ESA/D.Ducros/Novapix

Reference

e-son27-61004

Date

2011-10-02

Mars Express left Earth for Mars on 2 June 2003 when the positions of the two planets made for the shortest possible route, a condition that occurs once every twenty-six months. The european spaceprobe began its Mars observations in 2004. Mars Express was mounted on the Fregat upper stage. Most of the energy needed to propel Mars Express from Earth to Mars is provided by the four-stage Soyuz/Fregat launcher. The Fregat upper stage separated from the spacecraft after placed it on a Mars-bound trajectory.