Mars With Ice, Shaken, Not Stirred
Mars, like Earth, is a climate-fickle water planet. The main difference, of course, is that water on the frigid Red Planet is rarely liquid, preferring to spend almost all of its time traveling the world as a gas or churning up the surface as ice. view more (2007-10-26)
Experts from University of Leicester in Beagle 2 project
The University of Leicester Department of Physics and Astronomy has one of the largest space research centres of its kind in Europe. The University was co-founder of the £52million National Space Centre and is one of the principal partners in the Beagle 2 Project. For background information related to the Beagle 2 mission, the University is... view more... (2003-12-23)
Separation Day Arrives for Mars Express and Beagle 2
After a joint journey of 250 million miles (400 million km), the British-built Beagle 2 spacecraft and the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter should now have parted and gone their separate ways. At 8.31 GMT, software on Mars Express was scheduled to send the command for the Beagle 2 lander to separate from the orbiter. This would fire a... view more... (2003-12-19)
Timing is critical as launch windows approach
There will be greater tension than usual among engineers and scientists at Europe`s spaceport at Kourou, French Guiana, in January 2003, as they gather to see ESA`s comet-chasing spacecraft Rosetta departing on its long journey. If it is to keep its rendezvous with Comet Wirtanen in 2012, Rosetta must lift off on its Ariane-5 launcher no sooner... view more... (2002-09-05)
University of Leicester space scientists see the funny side of Mars
National competition offers fragment of Mars meteorite. Scientists at the University of Leicester are offering a piece of real Martian Meteorite ...to anyone who can make them laugh the loudest! One of the key teams behind the Beagle 2 Mars Mission, which is led by the Open University, has launched a national competition to find the most amusing... view more... (2003-09-25)
MIT, Harvard offer solution to Mars enigma
Planetary scientists have puzzled for years over an apparent contradiction on Mars. Abundant evidence points to an early warm, wet climate on the red planet, but there's no sign of the widespread carbonate rocks, such as limestone, that should have formed in such a climate. view more (2007-12-26)
For the paper trail of life on Mars or other planets, find cellulose
Looking for evidence of life on Mars or other planets? Finding cellulose microfibers would be the next best thing to a close encounter, according to new research from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. view more (2008-03-31)
Mars and Venus are surprisingly similar
Using two ESA spacecraft, planetary scientists are watching the atmospheres of Mars and Venus being stripped away into space. The simultaneous observations by Mars Express and Venus Express give scientists the data they need to investigate the evolution of the two planets' atmospheres. view more (2008-03-06)
Where man boldly goes, bacteria follow
Life in outer space is an absolute certainty, and it is likely to be more familiar than we might think, according to an article in the May issue of Microbiology Today. Ever since the start of the space race we have sent more than just satellites and astronauts into space: spacecraft are not routinely decontaminated and are teeming with microbial... view more... (2008-05-29)
Rosetta warms up for Mars swing-by
This month the team working on ESA's Rosetta mission have been particularly busy. Activities are underway to set the spacecraft's trajectory and prepare the on-board instruments ready for the next major mission milestone: the swing-by of planet Mars in February 2007. view more (2006-11-30)
Industry asked to design Mars rover and payload
Is there life on other worlds or is planet Earth the only place in our Solar System where living organisms have evolved? ESA is inviting European and Canadian industry to participate in its exciting ExoMars mission in order to provide an answer to this age-old question. On 9 July, the Aurora Programme Office issued an Invitation to Tender (ITT)... view more... (2003-07-22)
ESA prepares mission to search for life on Mars
Before humans can leave their boot prints on the dusty surface of Mars, many questions have to be answered and many problems solved. One of the most fundamental questions - one that has intrigued humankind for centuries - is whether life has ever existed on Mars, the most Earthlike of all the planets. Through its long-term Aurora Programme of... view more... (2004-02-23)
Looking for water on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Scout Lander reached Mars on May 25,, opened a soils lab, and started looking for water. Phoenix uses a robotic scoop arm to deliver regolith samples to the suite of instruments aboard the Lander--with one exception. view more (2008-09-29)
Mars Express mission controllers ready for NASA Phoenix landing
ESA's Mars Express mission control team are ready to monitor Phoenix's critical entry, descent and landing onto the Martian surface on 26 May 2008. view more (2008-05-21)
Laser cancer treatment and Martian imaging
Can laser light be used to treat cancer patients? Why is the search for Martian water so important? These questions may appear to be unconnected, but they actually have more in common than you might think. Both subjects will be tackled at free public talks held at Cardiff International Arena on Tuesday 3 and Wednesday 4 September. The talks show... view more... (2002-08-21)
ASU instrument takes better look at Mars minerals
A slow drift in the orbit of NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft that mission controllers started nine months ago is now giving an ASU instrument on the spacecraft a better and more sensitive view of minerals on the surface of Mars. view more (2009-06-23)
Chronicle of Martian Expedition
A man is the most vulnerable chain in long-term space expedition. How numerous should a crew be? What are the principles of a crew selection? What should be made to protect people during a flight and on some other planet? Scientists from the Institute for Problems of Medicine and Biology are trying to answer these and many other questions. With... view more... (2001-04-20)
Venus Express comes into Cosmic Vision
On 11 July 2002, Europe took a step closer to Venus. The ESA Science Programme Committee agreed unanimously to start work on Venus Express. Venus Express will reuse the Mars Express spacecraft design and needs to be ready for launch in 2005. view more (2002-07-15)
Mars Exploration And The Search For Life Is A Priority, Says UK Science Minister
The latest attempts to communicate with Beagle 2 via the Lovell Telescope at Jodrell Bank and the Mars Odyssey spacecraft have been unsuccessful. However, the Beagle 2 team has not given up hope and continues to be optimistic that efforts to contact the lander will eventually be successful. This message was also reinforced by Lord Sainsbury, UK... view more... (2003-12-29)
CRISM Has Key Role in Selecting Next Mars Rover Landing Site
Scientists scouting potential landing sites for NASA's next Mars rover mission are using new data from a powerful mineral-mapping camera to narrow the site selection. view more (2007-10-22)
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