From Mars Express Results to Future Mars Exploration
- Paper number
IAC-07-A3.3.01
- Author
Prof. Bernard Foing, European Space Agency (ESA)/ESTEC, The Netherlands
- Year
2007
- Abstract
The ESA Mars Express mission has changed our view of Mars. We highlight results of the mission, in the area of surface, atmospheric and subsurface studies. The instruments provide high resolution imaging with stereo and color (HRSC), IR mineralogical mapping (OMEGA), spectrometric studies of the atmosphere (SPICAM), radar sub-surface sounding (MARSIS), measurements of atmospheric composition (PFS), study of the interaction with the solar wind (ASPERA), and radio science investigations (MaRS). The HRSC experiment proper is a push-broom scanning instrument with 9 CCD line detectors mounted in parallel in the focal plane. It provides data at high resolution of 10 m/pixel from 250 km periapsis, with along-track triple stereo, with four colors and at five different phase angles. We shall give highlights of results of the HRSC and other Mars Express instruments in the areas of geology (study of volcanic and periglacial activity, the history of water), atmospheric science, photogrammetry/cartography of Mars, and spectrometry, obtained from the analysis conducted by the international co-investigator team. We shall review the Mars Express results in the context of the upcoming orbiters and landers, and future Mars exploration.
- Abstract document