Mars Express is also returning important information for astrobiologists on Earth. In March, the mission imaged water ice, as well as carbon dioxide ice, at Mars' southern polar cap. Mars Express has also confirmed the presence of methane in the martian atmosphere. Although Martian methane may be volcanic in origin, methane in a planet's atmosphere has been identified by scientists as a potential indicator of life due to the fact that methane on Earth is produced by biological activity. Determining how to recognize the signatures of life on other worlds is an important goal of astrobiology research at NASA.
Dec 24, 2005 | MISSIONS
Possible Evidence Found for Beagle 2 Location
(ESA) - Researchers at ESA may have spotted the Beagle 2 landing site.
Dec 05, 2005 | EDUCATION
NASA Events at 2005 Fall American Geophysical Union Meeting
(NASA - ARC) - NASA researchers present findings on a variety of Earth and space science topics at the 2005 Annual Fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
Dec 01, 2005 | MISSIONS
Glimpses of Mars Subsurface
(University of Iowa) - A scientific instrument on Mars Express identifies hidden craters and thick layers of ice beneath the surface of Mars.
Nov 21, 2005 | MISSIONS
ESA 'Huygens and Mars Express' Science Highlights - Call to press
(ESA) - On November 30th, ESA will discuss further results from Huygens and Mars Express.
Nov 02, 2005 | MISSIONS
Mars Express PFS Spectrometer Back at Work
(ESA) - The PFS spectrometer onboard Mars Express is working again after a malfunction that was reported a few months ago.
Sep 22, 2005 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Mission Extended
(ESA) - ESA has extended the Mars Express mission by one Martian year.
Aug 05, 2005 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Radar Collects First Surface Data
(ESA) - Mars Express has collected its first surface data at Mars.
Jul 28, 2005 | MISSIONS
Water Ice in Crater at Martian North Pole
(ESA) - Mars Express has identified a patch of water ice in an unnamed crater at Mars' north pole.
Jun 16, 2005 | MISSIONS
Smooth Deployment for Second MARSIS Antenna Boom
(ESA) - The second 20-meter antennae boom of the MARSIS instrument onboard ESA's Mars Express has been successfully deployed.
May 17, 2005 | MISSIONS
First MARSIS Boom Successfully Deployed
(ESA) - Controllers for ESA's Mars Express have successfully deployed the first boom of the spacecraft's MARSIS radar.
Mar 18, 2005 | MISSIONS
'Hourglass' Shaped Craters Filled with Traces of Glacier
(ESA) - A new image from Mars Express shows flow features most likely formed by glaciers or 'block' glaciers.
Feb 24, 2005 | MISSIONS
ESA's Mars Express Sees Signs of a 'Frozen Sea'
(ESA) - Mars Express has imaged what appears to be a dust-covered sea of frozen ice near the equator of Mars.
Feb 17, 2005 | MISSIONS
Science from Mars Express after One Year in Orbit
(ESA) - Mars Express entered into orbit around the Red Planet a year ago and has returned an avalanche of valuable data.
Nov 12, 2004 | MISSIONS
Martian Moon Phobos in Detail
(ESA) - Mars Express has returned high resolution images of the martian moon Phobos.
Oct 20, 2004 | MISSIONS
Rim of Crater Huygens on Mars
(ESA) - Mars Express returns images of the Huygens impact crater on Mars.
Oct 15, 2004 | SCIENCE
Promethei Terra, Southern Highlands of Mars
(ESA) - Mars Express provides images of dust devil tracks on Mars.
Sep 28, 2004 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Latest Findings Give Hints about Water Loss in the Martian Atmosphere
(ESA) - New data from the ASPERA-3 instrument supports the idea that the solar wind may be responsible for water loss on Mars.
Sep 20, 2004 | MISSIONS
Water and Methane Maps Overlap on Mars: a New Clue?
(ESA) - Mars Express data reveals that concentrations of water vapor and methane significantly overlap in the atmosphere of Mars.
Aug 11, 2004 | MISSIONS
Relays from Mars Show International Interplanetary Networking
(NASA - JPL) - Mars Express demonstrates its ability to serve as a communications link to Mars.
Jun 23, 2004 | MISSIONS
The Valles Marineris Canyon
(ESA) - ESA's Mars Express spacecraft continues to observe Mars and search for signs of past water activity.
Mar 30, 2004 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Confirms Methane in the Martian Atmosphere
(ESA) - The Mars Express orbiter has detected very small amounts of methane on Mars.
Mar 19, 2004 |
Water at Martian South Pole
(ESA) - ESA's Mars Express has identified both carbon dioxide and water ice at Mars' south pole.
Jan 27, 2004 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Sees its First Water
(ESA) - Mars Express has identified the presence of both water ice and carbon dioxide ice on Mars' South polar cap.
Jan 08, 2004 | MISSIONS
No Signal from Beagle 2 So Far
(ESA) - Mars Express made its first attempt to contact the Beagle 2 lander with no success.
Dec 31, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Orbit Change Successful
(ESA) - Mars Express has successfully entered into a polar orbit about Mars.
Dec 29, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Orbiting Precisely and Safely
(ESA) - Mars Express has safely entered into orbit around Mars.
Dec 20, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Releases Beagle 2
(ESA) - Mars Express has released the Beagle 2, which will land on Mars on December 25.
Dec 09, 2003 | MISSIONS
Welcome Back to Mars
(ESA) - Rickard Lundin discusses instruments onboard Mars Express that will examine interactions between the solar wind and the Martian atmosphere.
Dec 04, 2003 | MISSIONS
Crucial Moments on the Way to Mars
(ESA) - As the landing date draws near, ESA's first Mars mission still has many challenges to overcome.
Nov 19, 2003 | MISSIONS
Going to Mars for Christmas
(ESA) - ESA's Mars Express is on schedule to arrive at the Red Planet on Christmas Day.
Jul 18, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Bids Farewell to the Earth and the Moon
(ESA) - ESA receives one of the first data sets from Mars Express.
Jun 03, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Express En Route for the Red Planet
(ESA) - After a flawless June 2nd launch, Mars Express has been placed in a trajectory that will take it to Mars.
Jun 02, 2003 | MISSIONS
Europe's Mars Mission Lifts Off
(BBCNews) - The launch of Europe's Mars Express is a success.
Jun 02, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Mission Ready for Launch
(ESA) - Mars Express prepares to launch today at 1745 GMT.
May 28, 2003 | MISSIONS
Filling Up for the Long Journey
(ESA) - In its final pre-launch stages, Europe's Mars Express begins propellant loading.
May 20, 2003 | MISSIONS
ESA Sets Ambitious Goals for the First European Mission to Mars
(ESA) - Researchers prepare for the launch of Europe's Mars Express.
May 08, 2003 | MISSIONS
In Gagarin's Footsteps
(BBCNews) - BBC News Online begins a weekly journal covering Europe's Mars Express mission.
May 06, 2003 | MISSIONS
ESA Sets the Date for Mars Express Launch
(ESA) - Mars Express readies for a June 2nd launch.
Mar 18, 2003 | MISSIONS
Mars Express Prepares to Fly
(BBC News) - Scientists ready Mars Express for the launch pad.
