New studies suggest that Mars Express did not discover currently liquid water underneath a polar ice cap. Here's a report from July on a study that concluded that it was probably frozen clay:https://scitechdaily.com/doubt-cast-on-premise-of-subsurface-liquid-water-lakes-on-mars-may-just-be-frozen-clay/And another about a study that just came out concluding that the bright reflection came from a volcanic plain:https://scitechdaily.com/misled-by-a-mars-mirage-hope-for-present-day-martian-groundwater-dries-up/
Quote from: jbenton on 01/25/2022 12:00 amNew studies suggest that Mars Express did not discover currently liquid water underneath a polar ice cap. Here's a report from July on a study that concluded that it was probably frozen clay:https://scitechdaily.com/doubt-cast-on-premise-of-subsurface-liquid-water-lakes-on-mars-may-just-be-frozen-clay/And another about a study that just came out concluding that the bright reflection came from a volcanic plain:https://scitechdaily.com/misled-by-a-mars-mirage-hope-for-present-day-martian-groundwater-dries-up/Other recent studies confirm it is most likely water. https://scitechdaily.com/liquid-water-confirmed-beneath-martian-south-polar-cap/
Quote from: Dalhousie on 02/06/2022 09:46 amQuote from: jbenton on 01/25/2022 12:00 amNew studies suggest that Mars Express did not discover currently liquid water underneath a polar ice cap. Here's a report from July on a study that concluded that it was probably frozen clay:https://scitechdaily.com/doubt-cast-on-premise-of-subsurface-liquid-water-lakes-on-mars-may-just-be-frozen-clay/And another about a study that just came out concluding that the bright reflection came from a volcanic plain:https://scitechdaily.com/misled-by-a-mars-mirage-hope-for-present-day-martian-groundwater-dries-up/Other recent studies confirm it is most likely water. https://scitechdaily.com/liquid-water-confirmed-beneath-martian-south-polar-cap/Sounds like a case of being unsure what's under the ice, even with the MARSIS studies. Would this be an issue where ground-based radar and/or drilling required to confirm?
In briefThe MARSIS instrument on ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, famous for its role in the discovery of signs of liquid water on the Red Planet, is receiving a major software upgrade that will allow it to see beneath the surfaces of Mars and its moon Phobos in more detail than ever before.Mars Express was ESA’s first mission to the Red Planet. Launched 19 years ago, on 2 June 2003, the orbiter has spent almost two decades studying Earth’s neighbour and revolutionising our understanding of the history, present and future of Mars.
Perspective view of Holden Basin This oblique perspective view of part of Mars’ informally named Holden Basin was generated from the digital terrain model and the nadir and colour channels of the High Resolution Stereo Camera on ESA’s Mars Express.
What's the current status of Mars Express? Wiki has the mission extension running to end of 2022.Does anybody know how much longer it is expected to operate?
The science operations of Mars Express are extended until end of 2026 and the SPC also approved the indicative extension of Mars Express from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028, enabling support to the JAXA-led Mars Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. This will be followed by two years of post-operations; the extension to 2028 will be reviewed in 2025/2026, after MMX launch and arrival at Mars.
Quote from: Kaputnik on 03/20/2023 01:07 amWhat's the current status of Mars Express? Wiki has the mission extension running to end of 2022.Does anybody know how much longer it is expected to operate?https://sci.esa.int/web/director-desk/-/extended-life-for-esa-s-science-missionsQuoteThe science operations of Mars Express are extended until end of 2026 and the SPC also approved the indicative extension of Mars Express from 1 January 2027 to 31 December 2028, enabling support to the JAXA-led Mars Moons eXploration (MMX) mission. This will be followed by two years of post-operations; the extension to 2028 will be reviewed in 2025/2026, after MMX launch and arrival at Mars.
You've never seen Earth and the moon like this before.The Mars Express spacecraft recently celebrated 20 years in space by taking a nostalgic look back at Earth and the moon from the Red Planet. The images captured by the European Space Agency (ESA) craft show our planet and its natural satellite as little more than a large white dot crossed by a smaller white dot. And while this may not be the most spectacular image from space ever seen, the Mars Express picture demonstrates the distance between Earth and the Red Planet and what an achievement it is to put vehicles on and around our neighbor planet.
📷 Becquerel crater on Mars, taken by ESA's #MarsExpress. A mound of light-coloured sulphate deposits sits inside the crater amid dark wind-blown deposits. The smaller crater inside Becquerel is about 50 km across 👉