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Saturday, January 10, 2004 Data from Mars Express Camera to Total in Terabytes Gerhard Neukum, Planetary Scientist. Credit: Deutsche Welle The Beagle 2 may have failed, but Mars Express is readying to start its mission. ESA officials are planning a two-year mission with a possible extension to four years, during which the most powerful camera ever to orbit the planet will map 50-99% of the surface in unprecedented detail, with each data transmission gigabytes and the total mission data from the camera running into terabytes. The pictures, which will be taken in stereo, will be used to create detailed three-dimensional maps and possibly globes of Mars. Other science instruments will also contribute, including a radar system for finding water and a very high resolution camera channel capable of 2.3 meter/pixel resolution. (More info: Deutsche Welle) @ 18:29 EST