The European Space Agency (ESA) is set to create a historic milestone by hosting a one-hour live stream on YouTube to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mars Express mission. Taking place on June 2, 2023, this event will mark the first-ever live streaming of images directly from Mars to Earth, made possible by the Visual Monitoring Camera (VMC). Viewers will witness the captivating visuals, with images being streamed every 50 seconds, providing an unprecedented opportunity to witness Mars in real-time. Although there will be an 18-minute delay due to the time it takes for light to travel from Mars to Earth and the necessary signal processing, this initiative brings us closer than ever to a live perspective from the Red Planet.
On Friday, June 2, 2023, join ESA on YouTube for an extraordinary space experience as you witness live images beamed down from Mars. This unparalleled streaming event offers the closest encounter with Mars currently available, with new pictures unveiled approximately every 50 seconds, thanks to the Visual Monitoring Camera (VMC) aboard ESA’s long-serving and highly productive Mars orbiter.
To stay updated, follow @esaoperations on Twitter and join the conversation using the hashtag #MarsLIVE. The livestream will commence at 9:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 p.m. EDT, 18:00 CEST, 17:00 BST).
While it may seem like Mars doesn’t exist in real-time, we do have evidence of its existence based on the information gathered from bounced light and data transmitted by orbiters and landers exploring the planet. The time it takes for light to travel from Mars to Earth depends on the relative positions of the two planets in their orbits around the Sun, ranging from 3 to 22 minutes. Therefore, “live” news from space is limited by the speed of light, which traverses vast distances.
During the livestream, viewers will experience an 18-minute delay between the image capture in Mars’ orbit and its appearance on their screens. Approximately 17 minutes are required for light to travel from Mars to Earth in the current configuration, while an additional minute accounts for signal processing and transmission through the communication infrastructure. It should be noted that this groundbreaking endeavor has never been attempted before, so exact signal travel times remain somewhat uncertain.
The Mars Express mission’s Visual Monitoring Camera, initially designed to monitor the separation of the Beagle 2 lander from the spacecraft, unexpectedly transformed into a valuable scientific instrument. After being turned off following its primary task, it was later reactivated in 2007 for scientific and outreach purposes. These images, which were not intended for precise scientific analysis, proved to be invaluable for studying Mars and engaging space enthusiasts. By developing advanced image processing techniques, the Mars Webcam became the mission’s eighth science instrument, offering fascinating insights into the planet’s features, including the evolution of a unique elongated cloud formation above the renowned Arsia Mons volcano.
To celebrate the fruitful journey of Mars Express, teams have worked diligently to develop tools that enable the streaming of high-quality, scientifically processed images for an entire hour. Despite the uncertainties surrounding this endeavor, optimism runs high among the team responsible for the mission’s success. This initiative allows us to see Mars as it is now, providing the closest approximation of the planet’s current state. Don’t miss the #MarsLIVE stream on June 2 on the ESA Youtube channel, starting at 9:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 p.m. EDT, 18:00 CEST, 17:00 BST), as we celebrate the 20th birthday of Mars Express.
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What is the Mars Express livestream event?
The Mars Express livestream event is a one-hour live streaming event hosted by the European Space Agency (ESA) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Mars Express mission. It allows viewers to witness images directly from Mars in real-time, providing a unique and exciting experience.
How can I watch the livestream?
The livestream can be watched on the ESA Youtube channel. Simply tune in on June 2, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. PDT (12:00 p.m. EDT, 18:00 CEST, 17:00 BST) to join the event and witness the live images from Mars.
How often will images be streamed from Mars?
Images will be streamed roughly every 50 seconds from Mars to Earth during the livestream event. This frequent streaming allows viewers to have an almost real-time experience of Mars and its captivating landscapes.
Why is there an 18-minute delay in the livestream?
The 18-minute delay in the livestream is due to the time it takes for light to travel from Mars to Earth and the necessary signal processing. This delay is a result of the vast distance between the two planets and the time it takes for the signals to reach us.
Can we see Mars in real-time?
While the livestream provides the closest experience to real-time viewing of Mars, it is important to note that there will still be an 18-minute delay in the images appearing on your screen. This delay is determined by the speed of light and the signal processing required.
Will the livestream include scientific information about Mars?
The focus of the livestream is to provide viewers with live images from Mars. However, the Mars Express mission has been a valuable scientific endeavor, and some scientific insights may be shared during the event. The livestream primarily offers an opportunity to witness Mars in real-time and celebrate the mission’s 20th anniversary.
Related links:
- ESA Mars Express Mission
- Mars Express Image Gallery
- ESA YouTube Channel
- ESA Operations Twitter
- ESA Mars Express on Flickr
