Mars Express Science Results and Goals for the Extended Mission

Computer Science – Sound

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

Scientific paper

The ESA Mars Express mission was successfully launched on 02 June 2003 from Baikonur, Kazakhstan, onboard a Russian Soyuz rocket with a Fregat upper stage. The mission comprises an orbiter spacecraft, which has been placed in a polar martian orbit, and the small Beagle-2 lander, due to land in Isidis Planitia but whose fate remains uncertain. In addition to global studies of the surface, subsurface and atmosphere of Mars, with an unprecedented spatial and spectral resolution, the unifying theme of the mission is the search for water in its various states everywhere on the planet. A summary of scientific results from all experiments after more than one Martian year in orbit (687 days) will be presented. Mars Express is already hinting at a quantum leap in our understanding of the planet's geological evolution, to be complemented by the ground truth being provided by the American MER rovers. The nominal mission lifetime of one Martian year for the orbiter spacecraft has already been extended by another Martian year. During the extended mission, priority will be given to fulfill the remaining goals of the nominal mission (e.g., gravity measurements and seasonal coverage), to catch up with delayed MARSIS measurements during the nominal mission, to complete global coverage of high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, as well as subsurface sounding with the radar, to observe atmospheric and variable phenomena, and to revisit areas where discoveries were made. Also, an effort to enlarge the scope of existing cooperation will be made, in particular with respect to other missions to Mars (such as MGS, MER, MRO) and also missions to other planets carrying the same instruments as Mars Express (i.e. Venus Express). For further details on the Mars Express mission and its science, see the web site: http://sci.esa.int/marsexpress/

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Mars Express Science Results and Goals for the Extended Mission does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Mars Express Science Results and Goals for the Extended Mission, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Mars Express Science Results and Goals for the Extended Mission will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1784970

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.