European probe gets green light for red planet

The European probe Mars Express will deploy a key ground-penetrating radar in May in a long-delayed bid to scan Mars for signs of underground water, the European Space Agency (ESA) announced on Tuesday. The powerful instrument, MARSIS, should have been deployed in April 2004 but the operation was scrapped at the last minute after computer simulations suggested the probe could be wacked by a whiplash effect when the three seven-metre (24.5-feet) radar booms were opened out.
The simulations, provided by the boom's manufacturer, Astro Aerospace of California, have now been thoroughly assessed, ESA said in a press statement.
A review board has concluded that the risk of an impact cannot be ruled out, although "the impact energy would be low and the probability of a severe failure was very small," it said.
MARSIS will now be deployed in the week beginning May 2, although the operation could begin up to a week earlier if preparations go ahead quickly, ESA said.