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The high-resolution stereo camera (HRSC) experiment on Mars Express: Instrument aspects and experiment conduct from interplanetary cruise through the nominal mission
Jaumann, R.; Stephan, K.; Oberst, J. +24 more
ESA's Mars Express has successfully completed its nominal mission of one Martian year covering about 25% of the surface in stereo and color with resolutions up to 10 m/pixel by its high-resolution stereo camera (HRSC). Mars Express is now in its extended mission phase, during which much of the remaining part of the Martian surface is envisaged to …
Mineralogy and evolution of the surface of Mars: A review
Chevrier, V.; Mathé, P. E.
We review the mineralogy of the surface of Mars, using data from various sources, including in situ characterisations performed by landers, remote observations from orbit, and studies of the SNC meteorites. We also discuss the possible alteration processes and the factor controlling them, and try to relate the mineralogical observations to the che…
Evaluating planetary digital terrain models—The HRSC DTM test
Oberst, J.; Scholten, F.; Neukum, G. +20 more
The High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) has been orbiting the planet Mars since January 2004 onboard the European Space Agency (ESA) Mars Express mission and delivers imagery which is being used for topographic mapping of the planet. The HRSC team has conducted a systematic inter-comparison of different alternatives for the production of high res…
Local plasma processes and enhanced electron densities in the lower ionosphere in magnetic cusp regions on Mars
Gurnett, D. A.; Lundin, R.; Winningham, J. D. +11 more
Both the MARSIS ionospheric sounder and the charged particle instrument package ASPERA-3 are experiments on board the Mars Express spacecraft. Joint observations have shown that events of intense ionospheric electron density enhancements occur in the lower ionosphere of magnetic cusp regions, and that these enhancements are not associated with pre…
Water vapor mapping on Mars using OMEGA/Mars Express
Bibring, J. -P.; Gondet, B.; Langevin, Y. +8 more
A systematic mapping of water vapor on Mars has been achieved using the imaging spectrometer OMEGA aboard the Mars Express spacecraft, using the depth of the 2.6 µm ( ν1, ν3) band of H 2O. We report results obtained during two periods: (1) Ls=330-40° (January-June 2004), before and after the equinox, and (2) …
South Pole of Mars: Nature and composition of the icy terrains from Mars Express OMEGA observations
Bibring, J. -P.; Gondet, B.; Langevin, Y. +6 more
Monitoring the exchange of CO 2, H 2O and dust between the atmosphere, regolith, seasonal deposits and the permanent polar caps of Mars is required to study the climate of the planet and its evolution. The imaging spectrometer Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité (OMEGA) of Mars Express contribute…
Absorption and reflection of radio waves in the Martian ionosphere
Morgan, D. D.; Picardi, G.; Kirchner, D. L. +2 more
Radio wave absorption in the Martian ionosphere has been predicted and tested against MARSIS radar observations. Models of the ionosphere densities and of absorption in a CO2 neutral atmosphere were used. The appearance of ground reflections in the MARSIS observations is shown to be consistent with predictions of reflection and absorpti…
The martian atmosphere in the region of Hellas basin as observed by the planetary Fourier spectrometer (PFS-MEX)
Forget, F.; Grassi, D.; Ignatiev, N. I. +4 more
This work presents a review of the observations acquired by the planetary Fourier spectrometer (PFS) in the region of the Hellas basin. Taking advantage of the high spectral resolution of PFS, the vertical air temperature profile can be investigated with a previously unexperienced vertical resolution. Extensive comparisons with the expectations of…
Spatial variability, composition and thickness of the seasonal north polar cap of Mars in mid-spring
Hansen, G.; Grassi, D.; Formisano, V. +4 more
The planetary fourier spectrometer (PFS) for the Mars express mission (MEX) is an infrared spectrometer operating in the wavelength range from 1.2 to 45 µm by means of two spectral channels, called SWC (short wavelength channel) and LWC (long wavelength channel), covering, respectively, 1.2-5.5 and 5.5-45 µm. The middle-spring Martian …
Tracking the edge of the south seasonal polar cap of Mars
Grassi, D.; Formisano, V.; Giuranna, M. +1 more
The advance and retreat of the polar caps were one of the first observations that indicated Mars had seasons. Because a large portion of the atmosphere is cycled in and out of the seasonal caps during the year, the frost deposits play a significant role in regional and global atmospheric circulation. Understanding the nature of the seasonal polar …