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Mars Express Sends Back First Photo of Mars
Andrew Browne writes "Today the European Space Agency received the first photo of Mars from its Mars Express probe. The photo was taken on December 1st and processed by the DLR Institute for Planetary Research and by the Freie Universitat Berlin. Mars Express was launched June 2nd of this year and is due to arrive at the Red planet later this month. The extremely speedy voyage is thanks to our close approach to Mars this summer. Other probes taking advantage of the launch window include NASA's Spirit and Opportunity Mars Exploration Rovers. You can track the progress of all the probes heading to Mars with NASA's solar system simulator."
The problem with the nearest planetary body (Venus) is that it's very hot and has a very thick atmosphere. For modern technology it's almost a black hole - you can get there, but you cannot get back.
No, only Beagle 2 will look for life. Spirit and Opportunity will mostly look for water , and if Mars could have supported life in the past. They won't look for current life.
The ESA has some restrictive terms of use. No reproduction for a fee, educational or informational use only, etc., and that's only for a low-resolution thumbnail gallery.
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NASA typically rescinds copyright and puts its images in the public domain, so everyone can use them, plus they usually release the best resolutions they can get.
http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/Newsroom/BlueM
http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/viewrec
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/
The good thing about that is that people can make posters, etc. without worrying about trying to sell them at or above cost.
http://www.cafeshops.com/redundant_blue