Europe's Mars Express is hauling the Beagle 2 lander. The search for life on Mars is a key element in Aurora plans for future Mars exploration. Mars Express will be the first flexible mission in the revised ESA long-term scientific program and is planned to be launched towards Mars in June 2003 with a Soyouz/Fregat launcher. The spacecraft will carry a remote observation payload, as well as a lander communications package to support Mars lander mission from 2003 to 2007.
