Posted: Wed, Jul 2, 2003, 2:05 PM ET (1805 GMT)
A problem with a power subsystem on ESA's Mars Express spacecraft will reduce the total amount of power available and may affect some aspects of the mission, the space agency reported Wednesday. Project officials said that during tests of the spacecraft since its launch one month ago, engineers found a problem in the connection between the spacecraft's solar panels and its power conditioning unit. The problem will reduce the amount of power available to the spacecraft to 70 percent of planned levels. This will have no effect on the spacecraft during its journey to Mars and insertion into orbit around the planet, but ESA said in a statement that spacecraft operations "may have to be reviewed for certain short periods of the mission." That problem, though, should not prevent Mars Express from achieving its scientific objectives. ESA also reported that engineers have largely worked out a problem with one of the computer memory units on the spacecraft whose problem caused a "thrilling moment" during tests last month. That problem delayed the checkout of the Beagle 2 lander attached to Mars Express; it is now scheduled to complete its tests at the end of this week.

Related Links:

•  ESA press release
•  Space News article (subscription required)
•  AFP article