Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-03-01 08:43:19

wonderful pictures of the polar details very unique images

deployment of Express radar in the future should be very good

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-03-17 04:06:58

The recent Express image made picture on the day on the 15th of March for APOD

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap0503 … 50315.html

Methane surprise on Mars

http://www.astrobio.net/news/modules.ph … ...thold=0

Shaun Barrett · 2005-03-18 18:17:57

Mars Express goes from strength to strength!
Check out http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=16441]THIS ARTICLE for more news of possible shallow ice reserves - this time at the eastern border of the Hellas Basin.

How's this for a brilliant image of glacial flow downhill into two craters, and very recently, too, in geological terms:-

179-170305.m.jpg

For those too busy to read the whole text, these excerpts capture some of the most important points:-

This unusual 'hourglass'-shaped structure is located in Promethei Terra at the eastern rim of the Hellas Basin, at about latitude 38º South and longitude 104º East.
A so-called 'block' glacier, an ice stream with a large amount of scree (small rocks of assorted sizes), flowed from a flank of the massif into a bowl-shaped impact crater (left), nine kilometres wide, which has been filled nearly to the rim. The block glacier then flowed into a 17 kilometre wide crater, 500 metres below, taking advantage of downward slope.

Of particular interest is the age of these glacially shaped surfaces, which seem to be fairly intact over a wide area of the formerly glaciated terrain. Typical evidence for a significant loss of ice volume, such as 'kettle holes' present in ice-free regions of Iceland, are almost entirely missing.

This may be an indicator that the majority of the ice which formed these glacial flows is still present.

Therefore, glaciers must have formed until a few million years ago, in a time that was warmer and possibly also had a thicker atmosphere, and then became inactive or retreated due to the lack of continued supply of ice. Since then, they have been protected from sublimation by a thin dust layer. On Mars, dust is almost ubiquitous and would explain why 'fossil' ice present at depths of only a few metres could not be detected by other instruments such as spectrometers.

It's interesting that they believe Mars' atmosphere was possibly thicker even just a few million years ago. This would tie in with the fact that the Olympus Mons caldera has very young, uncratered, sand dunes - an impossibility at that altitude under present conditions because the air is too thin to shift sand and dust into dune formations. This suggests that the Martian atmosphere was considerably thicker, even at an altitude of 27,000 metres, in quite recent times.
And this evidence of recent glacial activity, together with the purported frozen sea in Elysium, reported lately, backs up the notion of very different conditions on Mars, even into the 'modern' era.

This all makes me think that Mars' climate really is on a 'hair trigger' and that significant atmospheric pressure changes can and do occur with comparative ease.
This, in turn, makes me think that a deliberate warming of the planet may very well bring about a runaway greenhouse effect and initiate the terraforming we've discussed at length.
It probably can be done; not just in theory, but in practice.
What a fascinating planet is Mars!

Palomar · 2005-03-19 06:04:02

Therefore, glaciers must have formed until a few million years ago, in a time that was warmer and possibly also had a thicker atmosphere, and then became inactive or retreated due to the lack of continued supply of ice. Since then, they have been protected from sublimation by a thin dust layer. On Mars, dust is almost ubiquitous and would explain why 'fossil' ice present at depths of only a few metres could not be detected by other instruments such as spectrometers.
It's interesting that they believe Mars' atmosphere was possibly thicker even just a few million years ago. This would tie in with the fact that the Olympus Mons caldera has very young, uncratered, sand dunes - an impossibility at that altitude under present conditions because the air is too thin to shift sand and dust into dune formations. This suggests that the Martian atmosphere was considerably thicker, even at an altitude of 27,000 metres, in quite recent times.
What a fascinating planet is Mars!

*Hi Shaun: I saw the article yesterday, prior to your post; was too pressed for time to post it here myself.

Indeed!

Fascinating speculation regarding ice and dust aspects, as the atmosphere is concerned.

--Cindy

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-03-21 03:22:57

more information

http://www.esa.int/images/180-170305-04 … n-01_L.jpg
Quote:
3D view of this unusual structure with traces of a glacier, located in Promethei Terra at the eastern rim of the Hellas Basin, at about latitude 38º South and longitude 104º East.

http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/mar … ...ass.jpe
Hour glass crater on Mars

very good

Warning that last one is a very big file !! :up:

Shaun Barrett · 2005-03-22 01:17:34

Thanks, YLR!
That last picture was excellent (you were right about the file size! ).

Makes you wonder whether we should be switching the Mars Polar Lander to somewhere like this or, better yet, the 'frozen sea' in Elysium. Then we could establish the presence of shallow sub-surface ice and accelerate the crewed expedition timetable.
(Perhaps even to the point where the first expedition lands before I drop dead .. instead of years afterwards!!! :realllymad: )

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-03-22 03:11:22

Thanks, YLR!
That last picture was excellent (you were right about the file size! ).
Makes you wonder whether we should be switching the Mars Polar Lander to somewhere like this or, better yet, the 'frozen sea' in Elysium. Then we could establish the presence of shallow sub-surface ice and accelerate the crewed expedition timetable.
(Perhaps even to the point where the first expedition lands before I drop dead .. instead of years afterwards!!! :realllymad: )

first expedition, who knows - let's hope it can happen

http://www.thespacesite.com/community/i … topic=1779

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.htm … ?pid=16441

same topic and crater with a bit more info

srmeaney · 2005-03-24 02:16:25

This crater lake is an ideal location to send one of the early survey teams. we must excavate a narrow trench and conduct surveys of the ice in the possibility that life may be frozen beneath it's surface. Considering that an increase in air pressure lowers the temperatures at which ice becomes liquid and then liquid becomes gas, yes, a little bit of terraforming will trigger a lot of change.

Palomar · 2005-03-29 14:24:48

(Perhaps even to the point where the first expedition lands before I drop dead .. instead of years afterwards!!! :realllymad: )

*You said it, brother! :up: Go Shaun!!

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Expres … ml]Another ME "hit"

The photos are so perfect...

Medusa (uh-oh...all guys here take note!) Fossae formation and adjacent areas, obtained during Orbit 917.

The cratered highlands stand two to five kilometres higher than the lowland plains, so the boundary is a relatively steep slope.

Weird terrain. So slopey and irregular. :-\

I especially like "Detail 3: Impact Crater."

This crater has a well preserved ejecta blanket with a ‘lobate’ (lobe-like) appearance, which is believed to indicate the presence of water or water ice in the impacted target. As a crater forms on a flat surface, it expands in a circular fashion.

The distribution of ejecta, resembling the wings of a butterfly, is due to a non-vertical impact

Yes, does resemble butterfly wings. Coincidentally, I chose a butterfly as my new avatar hours ago.

Amazonis Sulci cool too. Wind erosion, wind sculpted.

--Cindy

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-03-30 07:35:58

great pictures of Medusa Fossae

There seems to be a huge bulk of data available to the public, data you can enter an archive link near the top left but must register before retrieving datasets, http://www.rssd.esa.int/index.php?proje … roject=PSA they seem to be huge, GigaBites of Megbytes of Gigas of data :hm:

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-03-31 07:12:02

having a closer look it seems the data isn't so large perhaps just around 200 Gigs

aldo12xu · 2005-04-05 09:35:25

I was able to view thumbsized images but couldn't get beyond that. Anyways, I was most interested in the perspective photos. Are they on that database?

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-04-09 19:42:56

I was able to view thumbsized images but couldn't get beyond that. Anyways, I was most interested in the perspective photos. Are they on that database?

haven't seen them all yet

There also are pdfs from the Mars Express Conference
http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object … ctid=36537
Mars Express Conference Presentations

Here's some more
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMOBUV797E_in … dex_0.html
European space scientists have strongly recommended a mission equipped with a Rover

Palomar · 2005-04-22 10:52:31

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Expres … l]Networks of knotted gold...

*The Aureum Chaos region. The upclose perspective shots are excellent too. Lots of info in the article, pertaining to geography and etc.

ME is doing a terrific job.

Especially interesting about the "slump and collapse blocks." This is in the eastern portion of Valles Marineris.

--Cindy

::EDIT::

Near the southern border (middle left-hand side) of the colour image, a roughly five kilometre-wide region of bright material is observed. This material appears to form distinct layers that may have been created by the evaporation of fluids or by hydrothermal activity...

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-04-29 10:42:02

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Expres … l]Networks of knotted gold...
*The Aureum Chaos region. The upclose perspective shots are excellent too. Lots of info in the article, pertaining to geography and etc.
ME is doing a terrific job.
Especially interesting about the "slump and collapse blocks." This is in the eastern portion of Valles Marineris.
--Cindy
::EDIT::
Near the southern border (middle left-hand side) of the colour image, a roughly five kilometre-wide region of bright material is observed. This material appears to form distinct layers that may have been created by the evaporation of fluids or by hydrothermal activity...

great info and pictures
that Aureum Chaos region looks fantastic

Here are some more
http://www.esa.int/images/169-150105-08 … ...a_L.jpg
bigfile high-res
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/mar … ...res.jpg

http://www.esa.int/images/172-150105-08 … ...a_L.jpg
another mega pic with detail
http://esamultimedia.esa.int/images/mar … ...res.jpg

The displayed region is located at the beginning of the canyon system at about latitude 5° South and longitude 280° East. North is to the right of the image.
Tithonium Chasma extends roughly from east to west and runs parallel to Ius Chasma.

UT story
http://www.universetoday.com/am/publish … ...rs.html

other info and pics from Express
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Expres … ESD_0.html

Palomar · 2005-04-29 11:43:48

Here are some more
http://www.esa.int/images/169-150105-08 … ...a_L.jpg
http://www.esa.int/images/172-150105-08 … ...a_L.jpg
The displayed region is located at the beginning of the canyon system at about latitude 5° South and longitude 280° East. North is to the right of the image.
Tithonium Chasma extends roughly from east to west and runs parallel to Ius Chasma.

*Hi YL Rocket! Oh my...those are gorgeous. I'm not able to open the large images.

Wish they had a scale map on the first photo I retained in the quote box. The canyon in the upper right hand corner, with what looks like 4 "branches"...striking. Looks as though it were punched into the soil with some sort of very sharp stamping instrument. The edges of those canyons -- so sharp.

The filtering of sunlight across the ground beneath it, and the dark shadow of the ridge just to its right...wow.

So many hues of colors in the soil. Copperish, golden, muted moss green (no, I'm -not- implying I think there's vegetation or fungus down there!), soft burnt umber. Spectacular!

And the other photo, same region different perspective. I'm ready to lace up my hiking boots.

Thanks for posting those, YL Rocket. I've not seen these photos elsewhere.

--Cindy

SpaceNut · 2005-04-29 11:52:08

It would appear that the Mars Express Radar Boom will be finally Deployed in May
It has been a long wait, hope that it was worth it... to find water.
It is sort of bad that one is not on the LRO to search the moon for deep deposits. But hopefully we will find some soon on mars.

Palomar · 2005-05-09 14:13:14

*I saw a headline to the effect that deployment of MARSIS will be delayed; danged if I can find it now.

-*-

http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Expres … tml]Crater Holden and Uzboi Vallis

I like the "context" map. :up:

Due to a layer of haze close to the base of Holden, the area within the crater appears lighter coloured and slightly less detailed than the surrounding area.
A small, dark dune-field can be seen in the eastern half of the crater floor. It indicates the role of wind in the morphological evolution of Crater Holden.

Lots of smaller craters within Holden. Its central mount is partially hidden/covered by sediments. I wonder how tall/high that central mount would be.

Talus cones--

(cone-shaped piles of debris from rock falls at the base of slopes).

Interesting.

The deepest parts of the valley floor are more than 1600 metres below the surrounding area.

Excellent. Continuing stunning detail we've come to expect from Mars Express. The final photo is fantastic; as though you're hovering over it. Interesting dark gray cliff walls.

--Cindy

Yang Liwei Rocket · 2005-05-09 19:44:59

*I saw a headline to the effect that deployment of MARSIS will be delayed; danged if I can find it now.
-*-
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Expres … tml]Crater Holden and Uzboi Vallis
I like the "context" map. :up:
Due to a layer of haze close to the base of Holden, the area within the crater appears lighter coloured and slightly less detailed than the surrounding area.
A small, dark dune-field can be seen in the eastern half of the crater floor. It indicates the role of wind in the morphological evolution of Crater Holden.
Lots of smaller craters within Holden. Its central mount is partially hidden/covered by sediments. I wonder how tall/high that central mount would be.

wow that's amazing stuff :up:

must be some of the best photos I've seen yet

thank you for the update

:band:

Pity the MARSIS will be delayed why is it delayed now ?

SpaceNut · 2005-05-09 21:08:41

Actually I posted in the new thread for Marsis to probe for subsurface water

It appears that one of the segments did not fully deploy on the antenna as hoped it would.
Delay hits Mars radar deployment
or from Space.com
I guess we will be a wait an see mode for a while at least.

SpaceNut · 2005-05-11 20:22:45

It appears that the segments that had been stuck are now fully extended.
First MARSIS boom successfully deployed

[url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/7819797/] Europeans fix radar antenna over Mars
Orbiter’s boom locks into place after initial glitch[/url]

Now for the rest of the booms to extend?

SpaceNut · 2005-05-12 06:29:31

Mars Express Status Report - April 2005
Probe is slowly showing that it is aging but is still turning out great science still the same.

aldo12xu · 2005-05-26 20:03:24

I animated the ESA perspective photo of the snow covered north polar volcanoes to create a 4 minute video. It's a simulated flyby over the terrain and volcanoes, although the resolution of the source photo limits how much detail you see, even in the broadband version.

But I hope you enjoy it anyways.

Cheers,
Aldo.

Rxke · 2005-05-26 23:41:39

Aldo!

great to rediscover your site!
I once stumbled upon it, and enjoyed it immensely.

People, have a look at this gem! (The movies are grrrrrrrrreat!!!)

:up: :up: :up:

aldo12xu · 2005-05-28 20:17:28

Thanks Rxke!! I'm glad you like the site. I'm hoping to be able to post new material at least every second week. So stay tuned!

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#126 2005-03-01 08:43:19

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#127 2005-03-17 04:06:58

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#128 2005-03-18 18:17:57

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#129 2005-03-19 06:04:02

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#130 2005-03-21 03:22:57

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#131 2005-03-22 01:17:34

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#132 2005-03-22 03:11:22

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#133 2005-03-24 02:16:25

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#134 2005-03-29 14:24:48

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#135 2005-03-30 07:35:58

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#136 2005-03-31 07:12:02

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#137 2005-04-05 09:35:25

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#138 2005-04-09 19:42:56

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#139 2005-04-22 10:52:31

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#140 2005-04-29 10:42:02

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#141 2005-04-29 11:43:48

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#142 2005-04-29 11:52:08

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#143 2005-05-09 14:13:14

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#144 2005-05-09 19:44:59

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#145 2005-05-09 21:08:41

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#146 2005-05-11 20:22:45

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#147 2005-05-12 06:29:31

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#148 2005-05-26 20:03:24

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#149 2005-05-26 23:41:39

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

#150 2005-05-28 20:17:28

Re: Mars Express (MEX) - ESA orbiter

Board footer