The European Space Agency (ESA) plans to use the spacecraft bus designed for the 2003 Mars Express orbiter mission for other interplanetary and science missions, the first of which could be launched in 2005.
The spacecraft would weigh about 1.2t and would be compatible with launch by a Soyuz ST, Delta II or Ariane 5.
Three of nine mission proposals submitted to ESA have been selected for further study: a Venus orbiter to study the atmosphere and plasma environment of the planet; a cosmic dust explorer-observatory; and a Big Bang cosmic microwave background radiation spacecraft.
Source: Flight International
