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Mars Express mission extended

22 September 2005

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Mars Express with MARSIS antenna unfurled

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Mars Express in orbit around Mars with the MARSIS antenna unfurled

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This close-up view of the Martian north polar ice cap shows layers of water ice and dust for the first time in perspective view. Here we see cliffs which are almost 2 kilometres high, and the dark material in the caldera-like structures and dune fields could be volcanic ash.

Credits: ESA/DLR/FU Berlin (G. Neukum)

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The Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) on board ESA's Mars Express will employ ground-penetrating radar to map underground water (if it exists) on Mars.

Low-frequency waves will be directed towards the planet from a 40-metre long antenna which will be unfurled after Mars Express goes into orbit. The radio waves will be reflected from any surface they encounter.

In most cases this will be the surface of Mars, but because low frequencies are used, a significant fraction will travel through the crust to encounter further layers of different material - perhaps even water.

Analysis of the echoes produced will reveal much about the composition of the top five kilometres of the crust.

Looking at Mars

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Mars Express factsheet Mars Express instruments

Animation

See stages of MARSIS deployment

Mars Express radar collects first surface data Smooth deployment for second MARSIS antenna boom Green light for the deployment of the second MARSIS boom Deployment of second MARSIS boom delayed Mars Express radar to be deployed in May Mars Express latest findings give hints about water loss in the Martian atmosphere Chances of life are linked to water Water on early Mars?