Space Topics: Mars Express
Mission Objectives
With the possible exception of getting Beagle 2 to the surface, Mars Express
has achieved all of its prime objectives, including:
- imaging the entire surface of the planet at high resolution, in more
detail than any previous mission, at 10 meters/pixel and selected areas
at super resolution, 2 meters/pixel
- imaging the planet in 3-D
- mapping the composition of the atmosphere and determining its global circulation
to build an accurate picture of Martian meteorology and climate
- determining the interaction of the atmosphere with the solar wind
- producing a map of the mineral composition of the surface at 100-meter
resolution
- searching for subsurface water and minerals from orbit and determining
the structure of the sub-surface to a depth of a few kilometers
- providing relay communications services between landers (Mars Exploration
Rovers) and Earth
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