These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, show a Martian crater with a dune field on its floor. In arid zones on Earth, these features are called
August 17th, 2004
The eroded valleys of Dao and Niger Valles
These images, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft, show the Dao Valles and Niger Valles, a system of outflow channels on Mars. The images were taken during orbit 528 in June 2004, and show the Dao Valles and Niger Valles areas at a point where the north-eastern Hellas impact crater basin and the Hesperia Planum volcanic region meet.
August 3rd, 2004
Perspective view of deposits in Melas Chasma
This image of the southern part of Valles Marineris, called Melas Chasma, was obtained by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board the ESA Mars Express spacecraft. This image was taken at a resolution of approximately 30 metres per pixel. The displayed region is located at the southern rim of the Melas Chasma, centred at Mars latitude 11
July 19th, 2004
Aurora participants approve preparatory phase for European Space Exploration Programme
At the last meeting of the Aurora Board of Participants, held at ESA’s Paris headquarters on Thursday 8 July 2004, the participating states approved the Preparatory Phase of the European Space Exploration Programme (ESEP). Revising the original Declaration, the European countries already participating, plus Canada, unanimously agreed to remodel Aurora into a broader preparatory ESEP. This is with a view to possibly increasing their subscriptions and welcoming further participants, including the European Union, in accordance with the signed Framework Agreement.
June 28th, 2004
MARSIS deployment on hold
The deployment of the MARSIS antenna on ESA’s Mars Express spacecraft has been delayed until later this year. The Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) will seek evidence of underground water, either frozen or liquid, up to five kilometres beneath the surface of the Red Planet.
June 22nd, 2004
The Valles Marineris canyon
On 2 May 2004, the High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board the ESA Mars Express spacecraft obtained images from the central area of the Mars canyon called Valles Marineris. The images were taken at a resolution of approximately 16 metres per pixel. The displayed region is located at the southern rim of the Melas Chasma at Mars latitude 12
June 9th, 2004
Evidence of flooding at Mangala Valles
These images of fluvial surface features at Mangala Valles on Mars were obtained by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board the ESA Mars Express spacecraft. The HRSC has imaged structures several times which are related to fluvial events in the past on Mars.
March 31st, 2004
Space technologies aid solar-powered global flight bid
ESA’s Technology Transfer Programme is to supply state-of-the-art technologies to assist adventurer Bertrand Piccard’s flight around the world in a single-pilot solar-powered aircraft, as the ultimate demonstration of the potential for pollution-free flight.
March 30th, 2004
Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere
During recent observations from the ESA Mars Express spacecraft in orbit around Mars, methane was detected in its atmosphere. Whilst it is too early to draw any conclusions on its origin, exciting as they may be, scientists are thinking about the next steps to take in order to understand more.