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ESA to Deploy Mars Express Radar

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the can't-get-enough-of-that-new-mars-topic-icon dept.

fenimor writes "Mars Express was launched on 2 June 2003 and reached the planet on 25 December 2003. After eight months of intensive computer simulations and technical investigations the European Space Agency has given the green light for the MARSIS radar on board Mars Express spacecraft to be deployed during the first week of May. Assuming that this operation is successful, the radar will finally start the search for subsurface water reservoirs and studies of the Martian ionosphere."

9 of 140 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Antenna Boom by Adrilla · · Score: 5, Funny
    Of course they have safeguards and workarounds but if that fails MARSIS is dead in the water.
    It'd have to find water first.
    --

    "Plans are for fools! Oglethorpe, the plutonian (Aqua Teen Hunger Force)
  2. Delay explained by prgrmr · · Score: 4, Funny

    From TFA:

    follows eight months of intensive computer simulations and technical investigations on both sides of the Atlantic.

    It's good to know they took the time to work out all the conversions to and from metric.

  3. Speeding Martians by Nom+du+Keyboard · · Score: 3, Funny

    Those Martians better watch out. When radar is deployed, speeding tickets are soon to follow.

    --
    "It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."
  4. Be sure to send a monkey too! by Thud457 · · Score: 2, Funny

    Just imagine how motivated to find water they'll be when they're marooned!

    --

    the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

  5. Re:This is why we need a manned mission! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Then you gotta get them back.

    Pfft, sentimental claptrap. Ever seen Space Cowboys? Lets see if any of the old timers wouldn't fancy a one way trip to Mars!

  6. Re:This is why we need a manned mission! by essreenim · · Score: 1, Funny
    , a place to poop, You must mean the vent sticking out of the side of the craft.

    Why travel in space when you can crap into it?

  7. Re:Antenna Boom by digitalchinky · · Score: 2, Funny

    This antenna boom wouldn't happen to resemble a forked piece of willow would it? :-)

    Some old geeky farmer code lashed on to a couple of actuators and a divining rod...

  8. Re:One Step At A Time I Think by Fred_A · · Score: 2, Funny

    But didn't you RTFA ? We don't even know if there's any water on Mars. Sheesh.

    --

    May contain traces of nut.
    Made from the freshest electrons.
  9. Re:Why not test while in Earth orbit? by Hittite+Creosote · · Score: 2, Funny

    A joint mission between ESA and NASA to explore another world? You mean like Cassini-Huygens?