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Mars Express
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{{Short description|European orbiter mission to Mars (2003–present)}} {{Italic title}} {{About|the space exploration mission|the film|Mars Express (film)}} {{Infobox spaceflight | name = ''Mars Express'' | image = Mars-express-volcanoes-sm.jpg | image_caption = CG image of ''Mars Express'' arriving at Mars | mission_type = [[Mars]] orbiter | operator = [[ESA]] | website = {{URL|exploration.esa.int/mars}} | COSPAR_ID = 2003-022A | SATCAT = 27816 | mission_duration = Elapsed:<br />{{Age in years, months and days|year=2003|month=06|day=02}} since launch<br />{{Age in years, months and days|year=2003|month=12|day=25}} at Mars | spacecraft_type = | manufacturer = | dry_mass = {{convert|666|kg|lb|abbr=on}} | launch_mass = 1,123 kg<ref>{{cite web |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-022A |title=Mars Express |publisher=[[NASA Space Science Data Coordinated Archive]] |access-date=November 30, 2022 }}</ref> | power = 460 watts | launch_date = {{start-date|June 2, 2003, 17:45|timezone=yes}} UTC | launch_rocket = [[Soyuz-FG]]/[[Fregat]] | launch_site = [[Baikonur Cosmodrome|Baikonur]] [[Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 31|31/6]] | launch_contractor = [[Starsem]] | last_contact = | decay_date = | orbit_epoch = | orbit_reference = [[Areocentric orbit|Areocentric]] | orbit_periapsis = {{convert|298|km|mi|abbr=on}} | orbit_apoapsis = {{convert|10107|km|mi|abbr=on}} | orbit_inclination = 86.3 degrees | orbit_period = 7.5 hours | orbit_eccentricity = 0.571 | apsis = areion | interplanetary = {{Infobox spaceflight/IP |type = orbiter |component = ''Mars Express'' |object = [[Mars]] |orbits = |arrival_date = December 25, 2003, 03:00 UTC<br /><small>[[Timekeeping on Mars|MSD]] 46206 08:27 [[Airy Mean Time|AMT]]</small> }} {{Infobox spaceflight/IP |type = lander |component = ''[[Beagle 2]]'' |object = [[Mars]] |site = |arrival_date = December 25, 2003, 02:54 UTC }} | instruments_list = {{Infobox spaceflight/Instruments |acronym1 = HRSC |name1 = [[High Resolution Stereo Camera]] |acronym2 = OMEGA |name2 = Visible and Infrared Mineralogical, Mapping Spectrometer |acronym3 = [[MARSIS]] |name3 = Sub-surface Sounding Radar Altimeter |acronym4 = PFS |name4 = [[Planetary Fourier Spectrometer]] |acronym5 = SPICAM |name5 = Ultraviolet and Infrared Atmospheric Spectrometer |acronym6 = ASPERA |name6 = Energetic Neutral Atoms Analyser |acronym7 = MaRS |name7 = Mars Radio Science Experiment |acronym8 = VMC |name8 = [[Visual Monitoring Camera]] }} | insignia = File:Mars Express insignia.png | insignia_caption = ESA Solar System insignia for the ''Mars Express'' mission | insignia_alt = ''Mars Express'' mission insignia }} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2024}} '''''Mars Express''''' is a [[space exploration]] mission by the [[European Space Agency|European Space Agency (ESA)]] exploring the planet [[Mars]] and its moons since 2003, and the first planetary mission attempted by ESA.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Howell |first=Elizabeth |date=July 26, 2018 |title=European Space Agency's Mars Express |url=https://www.space.com/18206-mars-express.html |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=Space.com }}</ref> ''Mars Express'' consisted of two parts, the ''Mars Express Orbiter'' and ''[[Beagle 2]]'',<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=NASA - NSSDCA - Spacecraft - Details |url=https://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/nmc/spacecraft/display.action?id=2003-022A |access-date=April 1, 2023 |website=nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov |publisher=National Aeronautics and Space Administration}}</ref> a [[Lander (spacecraft)|lander]] designed to perform [[exobiology]] and geochemistry research. Although the lander failed to fully deploy after it landed on the Martian surface, the orbiter has been successfully performing scientific measurements since early 2004, namely, [[image resolution|high-resolution]] imaging and mineralogical mapping of the surface, radar sounding of the subsurface structure down to the permafrost, precise determination of the [[atmospheric circulation]] and composition, and study of the interaction of the [[Atmosphere of Mars|atmosphere]] with the [[interplanetary medium]].<ref name=":1" /> Due to the valuable science return and the highly flexible mission profile, ''Mars Express'' has been granted several mission extensions. The latest was approved on March 7, 2023, consisting of a confirmed operating period until December 31, 2026, and a further provisional extension to December 31, 2028.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/director-desk/-/extended-life-for-esa-s-science-missions |title=Extended life for ESA's science missions |publisher=[[ESA]] |date=March 7, 2023 |access-date=March 20, 2023}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theregister.com/2023/12/24/mars_express_mission_extension/ |title=ESA's Mars Express continues to avoid retirement home |publisher=[[The Register]] |last=Speed |first=Richard |date=December 24, 2023 |access-date=January 6, 2024}}</ref> Arriving at Mars in 2003, {{Age in years, months and days| year=2003| month=12| day=25}} ago (and counting), it is the second longest surviving, continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth, behind only NASA's still active ''[[2001 Mars Odyssey]]''.
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