File:Mars-express-volcanoes-sm.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons
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