Mars Express Status Report - November 2003

Mars Express Status Report - November 2003
28 Nov 2003 14:15

Summary of overall status
The Mars Express spacecraft, despite a series of intense solar flares that occurred 
late October-early November in active sunspots regions, is in good health and is 
operating normally. 




The spacecraft flew in the intense radiation environment that resulted from the 
exceptional solar and geomagnetic activity associated with these regions, temporarily 
causing disturbances on the star trackers. These disturbances, which were over within 
a few days, did not cause damage and did not constitute a threat to the mission. 

The main engine calibration has been performed successfully. Following the trajectory 
correction manoeuvre performed on 10 November, the spacecraft is now on course to Mars 
for the upcoming Beagle-2 ejection. The characterisation of the solar array confirmed 
the nominal performance of this subsystem. 

Preparations and simulations for Beagle-2 ejection and Mars Orbit Insertion are 
entering the final stages. The Beagle-2 lander separation will take place on 19 
December 2003. It will descend through the Martian atmosphere and land on the planet 
on 25 December 2003. The Mars Express spacecraft will undergo Mars orbit insertion 
(MOI) on 25 December 2003. 

The Interplanetary Cruise payload commissioning phase is now completed. No further 
payload activities were done in Interplanetary Cruise since the last status report. 
Several planned payload activities (for example, ASPERA, radio science) have been 
postponed until after MOI. A Mars observation sequence (imaging and spectroscopy) 
involving the OMEGA, HRSC and SPICAM instruments is scheduled for the 1st of December. 

All Beagle-2 checkouts have been successful, as well as a recently completed Beagle-2 
lander software upload. Detailed lander surface operations are being finalised for the 
first few days on the surface of Mars. Some of these operations will be coordinated 
with high-resolution remote sensing by the orbiter during several flyovers of the 
Beagle-2 landing site in Isidis Planitia. 

The planning for Mars commissioning and initial science operations after MOI is 
progressing nominally. Payload activity timelines are being prepared for the first few 
months in orbit, with the goal of optimising the scientific return while keeping 
within the limits of the power budget. 


Orbital/Trajectory Information
Information on the spacecraft's position and remaining distance to Mars can be viewed 
under “Orbit View” on the sidebar navigation. 

Today, 28 November 2003, Mars Express is 28 days from Mars Orbit Insertion. 


Scientific Payload Status
Instrument
 Activities since last report
 Status
 
ASPERA
 None
 Nominal
 
HRSC
 None
 Nominal
 
MARSIS
 None
 Nominal
 
OMEGA
 None
 Nominal
 
PFS
 None
 Nominal
 
SPICAM
 None
 Nominal
 
BEAGLE-2
 Checkout and Software Upload
 Nominal
 


Jacques :-)

Editor: www.spacepatches.info