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Extended Mission |
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When Mars Express has performed its core mission, it will continue in
orbit helping subsequent lander missions relay data back to earth for at
least another Martian year. This mission phase is currently scheduled from
December 1, 2005 to November 30, 2007.
U.S. Participation During Extended Mission
If the Mars Express Mission extends past its primary length of one
Martian Sol, the US will continue its science participation in Mars
Express' science instrument teams. The U.S. will also continue to
support the mission through JPL's Navigation and Information Facility
(NAIF) which develops software to support delivery of Mars Express
data (e.g. the spacecraft's position and other information that aid
in the interpretation of scientific data) to the Planetary Data
System, an online repository of mission data available to scientists
worldwide.
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