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Mars Express is a Mars exploration mission of the European Space Agency and Italian Space Agency. The spacecraft was launched on June 2 2003 from Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan, using a Soyuz-Fregat rocket, and began its inter-planetary voyage. The use of the word "express" in this mission's name refers originally to the relatively short time of its voyage, which was launched in time when Earth and Mars was closer to each other than ever in recorded history (about 60,000 years). However it also describes nicely the speed and efficiency with which the spacecraft was designed and built.

The craft consists of the Mars Express Orbiter which also carried a lander, Beagle 2, designed to perform exobiology and geochemistry research. It was hoped the lander would shed light on whether Mars had once supported or possibly supports living organisms. Many of the instruments on the orbiter, including the camera systems and some spectrometers, are duplicates of those lost in the launch failure of the Russian Mars 96 mission in 1996 (European countries had provided much of the instrumentation and financing for that unsuccessful mission). It also borrows technology from the ESA's Rosetta mission. The design of the Mars Express will be reused in the Venus Express mission.

The orbiter entered Mars orbit on December 25, 2003, and Beagle 2 entered Mars' atmosphere the same day. After repeated attempts to contact the lander failed, it was declared lost on February 6February 6 is the 37th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 328 days remaining, 329 in leap years. Events 337 Julius is elected pope. 1778 American Revolutionary War: In Paris the Treaty of Alliance and the Treaty of Amity and Commerce are, 20042004 is a leap year starting on Thursday (the link is to a full 2004 calendar), and has also been designated the: International Year of Rice International Year to Commemorate the Struggle against Slavery and its Abolition Elections are to be held in 73 co, by the Beagle 2 Management Board. On February 11February 11 is the 42nd day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 323 days remaining, 324 in leap years. Events through 1799 660 BC Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu Tenno. 731 Gregory II ends his reign as Pope. 824 Paschal I, ESA announced an inquiry would be held into the failure of Beagle 2.

In the meantime, the Mars Express Orbiter has started its science phase and performs excellently at the start of a two year survey of Mars.

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