European Mars Orbiter Sends Back Photos

AP ^ | 1/19/04

[jonatron]

BERLIN -- Europe's Mars Express orbiter has sent back its first high-resolution pictures of the planet's surface, capturing in detail part of a huge Martian canyon, the European Space Agency said Monday.

Mars Express went into orbit around the Red Planet on Christmas Day on the first European Mars mission. About two weeks later, NASA landed its Spirit rover on the Martian surface. Both missions are searching for signs of past or present life.

Over the past week, European controllers have focused on calibrating its on-board instruments -- including, in addition to its high-resolution stereo camera, a powerful radar to search beneath the surface for signs of water or ice that may once have sustained living organisms.

[jonatron]

for educational use only

[Ole Okie]

for educational use only

Okay, I only read it for educational purposes.

[Truth666]

european mars sends forward photos

[smith288]

I read it and then went on to make a profit off my learnings.... BWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA *hack cough*

[Triple Word Score]

Oh dear, I derived some very mild aesthetic pleasure from reading that. I'm so sorry. Please pass on my apologies and assure them it was very mild indeed.

[bonesmccoy]

Great job to the ESA and Brits!

Sorry to hear about LOS on Beagle 2... but good show with the orbiter!

Congratulations!

[bonesmccoy]

We're on one planet DUDE!

[Dialup Llama]

I'd like someone to photoshop the recent Spirit rover Marsscapes by adding some small Giza pyramids near the horizon. Should be a hoot.

[Prodigal Son]

That's a cool picture.

[jonatron]

Thank you for that awesome picture!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!