ESA title

The mission

Since beginning science operations in 2004, Mars Express has provided breathtaking views of Mars in three dimensions. It has provided the most complete map of the chemical composition of the atmosphere, studied Mars’s innermost moon Phobos in unprecedented detail, and traced the history of water across the globe, demonstrating that Mars once harboured environmental conditions that may have been suitable for life.

 

  • Launch date: 2 June 2003
  • Arrival at Mars: December 2003
  • Status: In operation
  • Targets: Mars's atmosphere, surface and subsurface; Mars's moons Phobos and Deimos
Mars Express

Latest

Mars Express visits Shalbatana Vallis on Mars
Science & Exploration

Waterworn chaos on Mars

13/05/2026 3329 views 91 likes
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Mars Express captures dark ash covering Mars’s Utopia Planitia
Science & Exploration

Ash creeps across Mars

15/04/2026 12037 views 87 likes
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Coronal mass ejection on 27 May 2024
Science & Exploration

ESA’s Mars orbiters watch solar superstorm hit the Red Plan…

05/03/2026 11038 views 62 likes
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Counting craters in Mars’s ancient highlands
Science & Exploration

Counting craters

04/03/2026 3397 views 50 likes
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Overhead perspective of Flaugergues Crater
Science & Exploration

Explore Mars’s Flaugergues Crater

04/02/2026 3466 views 82 likes
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More items

  • Science & Exploration

    Global Mars in colour

    23/05/2023 24261 views 476 likes
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    Mars Express images combined to produce global Mars in colour
  • Science & Exploration

    Ius and Tithonium Chasmata on Mars

    20/07/2022 5652 views 83 likes
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  • Science & Exploration

    Utopia Planitia on Mars

    30/03/2022 6820 views 100 likes
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    Utopia Planitia on Mars
  • Science & Exploration

    Perspective view along icy layered ridge

    22/12/2022 2241 views 50 likes
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    Perspective view along icy layered ridge
  • Science & Exploration

    Fly over Xanthe Terra with Mars Express

    02/10/2025 8610 views 190 likes
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Mars Express overview