European Space Agency launched their first Mars probe, the Mars Express, June 2, 2003. Taking advantage of a once-in-a-60,000-year occurence when Earth and Mars are closest, the Mars Express arrived at the Red Planet Christmas Day.
It consisted of the Mars Express Orbiter and the lander Beagle 2, named after Charles Darwin's ship, the HMS Beagle. The lander detached 6 days before arrival but contact was lost. It was discovered intact on the Martian surface by NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Apparently, some of the solar panels did not open and prevented the antenna from deploying properly.
The Mars Express Orbiter has been in successful operation since arriving and its mission has been extended until 2020.
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