Mars Express
ActiveLaunched in 2003·Mars orbit — 298-10,107 km
ESA's first orbiter around Mars. It confirmed the presence of water, methane and mapped the atmosphere.
Main objectives
- Map Mars and its subsurface (MARSIS radar).
- Study the atmosphere and the presence of methane.
- Support surface missions through relay and imaging.
Did you know?
The MARSIS radar detected lakes of liquid water beneath Mars' south pole (2018).
Timeline
Jun 02, 2003
Launch
Soyuz from Baikonur.
Jul 25, 2018
Subglacial lakes
MARSIS detects liquid-water lakes beneath the south pole.
Mars Express
Discoveries
[02]- DiscoveryBreakthroughLiquid-water lake beneath the Martian south poleJul 25, 2018
- MeasurementMajorSubsurface water ice mapJun 15, 2024