Meet the neighbours
Our closest planetary neighbours are Venus and Mars. Like the Earth they're both rocky planets, but their environments are much more extreme than ours. What makes them so different?
Space detectives are on the case. The US has several orbiters around Mars, and two robotic rovers on the surface. Europe's Mars Express spacecraft is orbiting the Red Planet. Venus Express, which re-uses some of its sister ship's design and technology, launches in November 2005.
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Venus Express will explore our sister planet
Image: ESA |
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