Soyuz launches European Mars spacecraft
Posted: Mon, Jun 2, 2003, 8:03 PM ET (0003 GMT)
A Russian Soyuz booster successfully launched Monday a European Mars orbiter and a British-built Mars lander. The Soyuz lifted off on schedule at 1:45 pm EDT (1745 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Mars Express orbiter and Beagle 2 lander separated from the Soyuz's Fregat upper stage 92 minutes after liftoff, after the Fregat placed the spacecraft on a trajectory towards Mars. The spacecraft will take nearly seven months to travel to Mars, arriving at the planet in late December. The Beagle 2 lander is scheduled to separate from Mars Express on December 20 and land five days later, on Christmas Day. Mars Express will enter orbit around the planet around the same time and operate for at least one Martian year (687 days). the two spacecraft are the first European missions to Mars.
A Russian Soyuz booster successfully launched Monday a European Mars orbiter and a British-built Mars lander. The Soyuz lifted off on schedule at 1:45 pm EDT (1745 GMT) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. The Mars Express orbiter and Beagle 2 lander separated from the Soyuz's Fregat upper stage 92 minutes after liftoff, after the Fregat placed the spacecraft on a trajectory towards Mars. The spacecraft will take nearly seven months to travel to Mars, arriving at the planet in late December. The Beagle 2 lander is scheduled to separate from Mars Express on December 20 and land five days later, on Christmas Day. Mars Express will enter orbit around the planet around the same time and operate for at least one Martian year (687 days). the two spacecraft are the first European missions to Mars.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, January 20
Gilmour Space’s mega-raising turns rocket maker into unicorn
Australian Financial Review — 5:41 am ET (1041 GMT) Adam’s last rocket blew up. Taxpayers are betting $75m the next one will go better
The Age — 5:39 am ET (1039 GMT) Rocket fuel: Gilmour Space hits unicorn status after $217 million Series E
Startup Daily — 5:38 am ET (1038 GMT) Gilmour Space secures $217M investment to scale Australian space manufacturing capability
Australian Manufacturing — 5:38 am ET (1038 GMT) Gilmour Space secures major Australian investment to scale sovereign space capability
Gilmour Space — 5:37 am ET (1037 GMT) |
