Mars Express still on schedule despite change in launch window, says ESA
The earliest launch date for the Mars Express has been rescheduled for 6 June, the European Space Agency (ESA) has announced. After six months of extensive testing, Mars Express, with the Beagle 2 lander, left for Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan on 19 March. Initially the launch window for the spacecraft ran from 23 May to June 21. Brigitte Kolsmee, a spokesperson for ESA, told CORDIS News that following routine testing at Baikonur, and on site finalisation of a timeframe, the earliest date for blast off has been pushed back to 6 June. Ms Kolsmee reiterated that this was standard procedure and that Europe's first mission to the red planet is still on schedule. The Mars Express must take off no later than 21 June if it is to benefit from the favourable positioning of two planets, which will be separated by a minimal distance. Missing this window of opportunity would mean waiting another 17 years. The United States has also scheduled two missions to Mars this year, due for launch on 30 May and 25 June.