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Paris, 21 May 2003
Press Release
Nx 32-2003

Follow the Mars Express launch from one of ESA's establishments

On 2 June at 19:45 CEST (Central European Summer Time, 17.45 GMT/UTC)
ESA's Mars Express satellite will be launched by a Soyuz launcher
from Baikonur, Kazakhstan.

Europe's first mission to the Red Planet will reach its target in
December, after a six-month journey.  Mars Express will help
scientists answer questions about the Martian landscape, atmosphere
and the origin of life that remain open, although a wealth of
information is already available.

Media representatives in Europe can follow the launch and initial
orbital operations at ESA/Darmstadt (ESOC) in Germany, which will be
acting as the main European press centre, or ESA/Noordwijk (ESTEC) in
the Netherlands. ESA/Frascati (ESRIN) in Italy and the Italian Space
Agency, ASI, are organising a joint event at the University of Rome.
ESA/Villafranca (VILSPA) and the CDTI, the Spanish institution in
charge of space issues, are organising a joint event in Spain at the
Museo Principe Felipe de la Ciudad de las Artes y las Ciencias in
Valencia. At each site ESA specialists will be available for
interviews. 

Media representatives wishing to attend are requested to complete the
attached reply form and fax it to the Communication Office at the
establishment of their choice.

The ESA TV Service will provide live televised coverage of the launch
and initial orbital operations with English commentary, between 19:15
and 22:00 CEST.

Satellite: Astra 2C at 19 degrees East
Reception frequency: 10832 MHz
Polarisation: Horizontal
Symbol rate: 22 Msymb/s
FEC: 5/6
Service ID: 61950
Service name: ESA
TXT: none

Details of the transmission schedule and satellite details for the
various pre-launch Video News Releases can be found on
http://television.esa.int.

The launch can also be followed live on the internet at
www.esa.int/marsexpresslaunch starting at 19:15 hrs. Here you can
also find the launch diary, news, press releases, videos, images and
more. 

For further information, please contact:
ESA Media Relations Service
Tel: +33(0)1.53.69.7155 
Fax: +33(0)1.53.69.7690

_____________________________________________________________________

MARS EXPRESS LAUNCH ACCREDITATION FORM
Launch on Monday 2 June 2003


First name: _______________________ Surname:_________________________

Media : _____________________________________________________________

Address : ___________________________________________________________

_____________________________________________________________________

Tel : ______________________________ Fax :___________________________

Mobile : __________________________ e-mail :_________________________

I will be attending the Mars Express launch event at the following
site:

[ ]Germany:
Location: ESA/ESOC
Address: Robert-Bosch Strasse 5, Darmstadt, Germany 
Opening hours: 17.00-23.00 hrs
Contact point: Jocelyne Landeau-Constantin
Tel:+49 6151 90 2696/2459
Fax: +49 6151 90 2961
Info line: +49 - 6151 - 90 26 09

[ ] The Netherlands
Location : Space Expo, visitors' centre of ESA/ESTEC
Address: Keplerlaan 3, Noordwijk, The Netherlands
Opening hours: 18.00-22.30 hrs
Contact point: Michel van Baal
Tel:+31 71 565 3006 durig office hours
Tel:+31 6 511 83 553 (29 May-1 June)
Tel: +31 71 36 46 446 during launch event (Space Expo)
Fax: +31 71 565 5728
Info line: +31. 71 565 8016

[ ]Italy
Location: Rome University-Faculty of Space Engineering
Address: Via Eudossiana 16 - S. Pietro in Vincoli
Opening hours: from 18.15 hrs
Contact points:
Franca Morgia, ESA
Tel:+39.06.9418.0951
Fax:+39.06.9418.0952
Francesco Rea, ASI
Tel:+39.06.8567235

[ ] Spain
Location: Auditorium, Museo Principe Felipe de la Ciudad de las Artes
y las Ciencias
Address: Avenida Autopista del Saler, 7 - 46013 Valencia
Opening hours: from 18:00
Contact point: Monica Oerke
Tel:+34. 91. 813.1327
Fax:+34.91.813.1210

Please complete the form and fax it to the site of your choice.

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