The ‘Mars Express’ space probe blasted off at 7:45pm on Monday from the Russian Baikonur base, in Kazakhstan. Also bound for the red planet is a sample of Ferrari Rossa Corsa paint, the same tone used on the Scuderia’s Formula 1 single-seaters.

The probe was built by the ESA (European Space Agency) and was launched on board a Soyuz rocket. The aim of the mission is to explore the planet’s atmosphere and surface, and also to search for water or ice, thanks to a sophisticated radar system. The Ferrari sample is secured to the probe via a specially designed bracket, nicknamed ‘FRED’, in which is stored a special container. The 2cm diameter thermal crystal globe was made to resist the intense temperatures of such a voyage.

Ferrari Red passed all the stringent ESA examinations before being allowed on board the probe: thermal tests that rapidly switched temperatures from –15° to 40°, vacuum tests, and performance tests under conditions of strong vibration. ‘Mars Express’ is scheduled to arrive on 25th December, after a voyage of more than six months at 10,800 km/h.