Editing Mars Express (section)

== Scientific instruments ==
The scientific objectives of the ''Mars Express'' payload are to obtain global high-resolution photo-geology (10 m resolution), mineralogical mapping (100 m resolution) and mapping of the atmospheric composition, study the subsurface structure, the global atmospheric circulation, and the interaction between the atmosphere and the subsurface, and the atmosphere and the interplanetary medium. The total mass budgeted for the science payload is 116&nbsp;kg.<ref>{{cite book
| title = ESA SP-1240: Mars Express: the scientific payload
|first1=Andrew |last1=Wilson |first2=Agustin |last2=Chicarro |place=Noordwijk, Netherlands
| publisher = ESA Publications Division
| date = 2004
| isbn = 978-92-9092-556-9
| url = http://sci.esa.int/science-e/www/object/index.cfm?fobjectid=34885}}
</ref> The payload scientific instruments are:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Mars_Express_instruments|title=Mars Express orbiter instruments|publisher=[[ESA]]|date=November 30, 2005|access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref>

* Visible and Infrared Mineralogical Mapping Spectrometer (OMEGA) (Observatoire pour la Minéralogie, l'Eau, les Glaces et l'Activité) – France – Determines mineral composition of the surface up to 100 m resolution. Is mounted inside pointing out the top face.<ref>{{cite journal
| title = Global mineralogical and aqueous mars history derived from OMEGA/Mars express data|author5-link=Raymond Arvidson|author3-link=John F. Mustard
|vauthors=Bibring JP, Langevin Y, Mustard JF, Poulet F, Arvidson R, Gendrin A, Gondet B, Mangold N, Pinet P, Forget F |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]]
| volume = 312
| issue = 5772
| date = 2006
| pages = 400–404
| doi=10.1126/science.1122659
| pmid = 16627738 |bibcode = 2006Sci...312..400B |s2cid=13968348 }}
</ref> Instrument mass: 28.6&nbsp;kg<ref name="chicarro">{{Cite report |url=http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/mgs/sci/fifthconf99/6111.pdf |title=Mars Express Mission: Overview and Scientific Observations|last1= Chicarro|first1=A.F.|year=2003|access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref>
* Ultraviolet and Infrared Atmospheric Spectrometer (SPICAM) – France – Assesses elemental composition of the atmosphere. Is mounted inside pointing out the top face. Instrument mass: 4.7&nbsp;kg<ref name="chicarro" />
* Sub-Surface Sounding Radar Altimeter ([[MARSIS]]) – Italy – A radar [[altimeter]] used to assess composition of sub-surface aimed at search for frozen water. Is mounted in the body and is nadir pointing, and also incorporates the two 20 m antennas. Instrument mass: 13.7&nbsp;kg<ref name="chicarro" />
* Planetary Fourier Spectrometer ([[Planetary Fourier Spectrometer|PFS]]) – Italy – Makes observations of atmospheric temperature and pressure (observations suspended in September 2005). Is mounted inside pointing out the top face<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://www.nature.com/news/2005/050905/full/news050905-10.html|title=Martian methane probe in trouble|journal=News@nature|publisher=[[Nature (journal)|Nature]]|doi=10.1038/news050905-10|first1=Mark|last1=Peplow|date=September 7, 2005|pages=news050905–10 |access-date=March 29, 2016}}</ref> and is currently working. Instrument mass: 30.8&nbsp;kg<ref name="chicarro" />
* Analyzer of Space Plasmas and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA) – Sweden – Investigates interactions between upper atmosphere and solar wind. Is mounted on the top face. Instrument mass: 7.9&nbsp;kg<ref name="chicarro" />
* [[High Resolution Stereo Camera]] (HRSC) – Germany – Produces color images with up to 2 m resolution. Is mounted inside the spacecraft body, aimed through the top face of the spacecraft, which is nadir pointing during Mars operations. Instrument mass: 20.4&nbsp;kg<ref name="chicarro" />
* Mars Express Lander Communications (MELACOM) – UK – Allows ''Mars Express'' to act as a communication relay for landers on the Martian surface. (Has been used on both [[Mars Exploration Rovers]], and was used to support the landing of NASA's ''Phoenix'' mission)
* Mars Radio Science Experiment (MaRS) – Uses radio signals to investigate atmosphere, surface, subsurface, gravity and solar corona density during solar conjunctions. It uses the communications subsystem itself.
* [[Visual Monitoring Camera]], a small camera to monitor the lander ejection.