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CNN Live Sunday

European Space Agency Launches Mars Probe

Aired June 01, 2003 - 18:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up this month, not one, but two -- not two, but three, actually, separate rockets will take off for Mars. NASA is going to launch two rovers later this June. But the European Space Agency is going to launch its first mission to Mars tomorrow. For more on the mission, here is CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In sterile laboratories around the globe, white-cloaked scientists are quietly but intensively competing to answer a crucial question. Is there life on Mars? European Space Agency's Mars Express leading the pack. A Giata (ph) Martian probe NASA hopes to launch later this month. These, the first of several probes expected to land on the Red Planet's surface over the next decade. In the search for extraterrestrial life, Mars remains the destination of choice.

(on camera): On Earth, life is inextricably linked with water, in all its forms. That's why looking for water will be the central mission of Mars Express. It may just lead to the discovery of life on the Red Planet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe that there is still water embedded in the planet and maybe some -- you know, creatures which might be at a certain level of life. Of course, we didn't discover yet, but there is a big question mark.

CHILCOTE (voice-over): Mars Express hopes to answer that question with two spacecraft that will work in tandem. It's land roving Beagle 2 will parachute into the planet's atmosphere, equipped with cameras, to collect Martian samples with a drill souped up for space and a radar system that allows it to look well beneath the surface.

Overhead, the Mars Express' main body will orbit the planet taking pictures and relaying data to scientists back at planet Earth.

The Express won't make it, if it makes it at all, to the Red Planet, until late in December. And the Beagle can only move about 10 human steps an hour, but many scientists still believe we will soon know if life exists beyond this world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we're very close. In 10, 15 years, it will be quite evident if there are forms of life.

CHILCOTE: Once the Express gets there, it will roam for nearly two years. But right now, the focus is on getting the project off the ground.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com






Aired June 1, 2003 - 18:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Coming up this month, not one, but two -- not two, but three, actually, separate rockets will take off for Mars. NASA is going to launch two rovers later this June. But the European Space Agency is going to launch its first mission to Mars tomorrow. For more on the mission, here is CNN's Ryan Chilcote.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RYAN CHILCOTE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In sterile laboratories around the globe, white-cloaked scientists are quietly but intensively competing to answer a crucial question. Is there life on Mars? European Space Agency's Mars Express leading the pack. A Giata (ph) Martian probe NASA hopes to launch later this month. These, the first of several probes expected to land on the Red Planet's surface over the next decade. In the search for extraterrestrial life, Mars remains the destination of choice.

(on camera): On Earth, life is inextricably linked with water, in all its forms. That's why looking for water will be the central mission of Mars Express. It may just lead to the discovery of life on the Red Planet.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We believe that there is still water embedded in the planet and maybe some -- you know, creatures which might be at a certain level of life. Of course, we didn't discover yet, but there is a big question mark.

CHILCOTE (voice-over): Mars Express hopes to answer that question with two spacecraft that will work in tandem. It's land roving Beagle 2 will parachute into the planet's atmosphere, equipped with cameras, to collect Martian samples with a drill souped up for space and a radar system that allows it to look well beneath the surface.

Overhead, the Mars Express' main body will orbit the planet taking pictures and relaying data to scientists back at planet Earth.

The Express won't make it, if it makes it at all, to the Red Planet, until late in December. And the Beagle can only move about 10 human steps an hour, but many scientists still believe we will soon know if life exists beyond this world.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we're very close. In 10, 15 years, it will be quite evident if there are forms of life.

CHILCOTE: Once the Express gets there, it will roam for nearly two years. But right now, the focus is on getting the project off the ground.

Ryan Chilcote, CNN, Moscow.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com