[meteorite-list] Mars Express Update - January 15, 2004

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Apr 22 10:32:02 2004
Message-ID: <200401151701.JAA06294_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/SEM5DT374OD_0.html

Mars Express Status report
European Space Agency
15 January 2004

ESA's Mars Express spacecraft is currently in a near-final orbit around Mars
with a period of 10 hours. Flight controllers are now isolating the main engine,
which fired for the last time on 11 January, finishing its work on the mission after
performing flawlessly.
 
To complete the manoeuvre into its final operational orbit, Mars Express will
make a series of seven firings of its small thrusters, the first on 15 January and
the last on the 26 January. The final orbital period will be 7.6 hours.

All instruments have successfully been switched on, and have started to deliver
data (except for the boom deployment of the radar which is planned for April, in
accordance with the science planning of the mission).
 
Received on Thu 15 Jan 2004 12:01:38 PM PST