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European Space Agency

Press Release

3 June 2003

Ferrari blasts into the record books with Mars Express

At 19.45 CET on 2 June 2003, Ferrari began its fantastic journey to
the Red Planet in spectacular style - on board Mars Express, the
first European mission to Mars.

The spacecraft was successfully launched from Baikonur in Kazakhstan
this evening on board a Soyuz/Fregat launcher. It is now reaching its
cruising speed of up to 10 800 kilometres per hour. At such a speed,
the journey to Mars will take just six months, with Mars Express
arriving at the Red Planet on Christmas Day.

The mission is a first for Europe and for Ferrari. Ferrari agreed to
provide the symbol of its success - a sample of its famous red paint
- inside FRED, a specially constructed glass globe. This globe was
attached to the inside of the spacecraft. FRED has been designed to
withstand the extreme motions during the launch and the extreme
temperatures it will encounter on its exciting journey through space.

The progress of the first fully European mission will be watched by
millions of people worldwide. Just like a Ferrari F1 racing car, Mars
Express is equipped with technology that is second to none. Using
this technology, Mars Express aims to solve many of the age-old
mysteries about the Red Planet, and ultimately discover whether life
exists, or ever existed, on Mars. Studying the secrets of this
desolate, inhospitable planet will also help us determine whether
Earth is destined to a similar fate in the future.

Editor's notes:
The colour of the Red Planet was an obvious focus to bring the Mars
Express mission to the attention of the general public. In the
public's imagination, this colour is also closely linked with the
name of the famous European car manufacturer, Ferrari.

Ferrari agreed to send a sample of its 'Rosso Corsa' paint to Mars on
board Mars Express in July 2002. Subsequently, the paint, housed in
the specially constructed glass globe named 'FRED', underwent a
series of tests and was finally given a certificate of 'space
qualification' at a ceremony held in Toulouse in September 2002. At
this ceremony, FRED was integrated on to Mars Express in readiness
for its journey. 

'Red Encounter' is the name given to the momentous meeting due to
take place at the end of 2003 between the two 'Red Planets': the
planet Mars and Ferrari. For more information, visit:
www.redencounter.esa.int

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