ESA's
first mission to the Red Planet, Mars Express, was launched in June 2003. It
comprised an orbiter carrying seven scientific instruments to probe the
planet's atmosphere, structure and geology, including a search for evidence
of hidden water. The main spacecraft released the UK's small Beagle2 lander
to gather and test rock and soil samples on the surface. Mars Express is a pilot project for new methods of funding and managing ESA space missions, built more quickly and launched at a much lower cost than any previous mission of a similar nature.
FC6 Frangibolts were used as a launch lock to support the Beagle 2 Lander. These were released shortly after launch allowing the Beagle 2 to be jettisoned once in Martian Orbit.
Credits: ESA
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html
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