Editing Mars Express (section)

=== Second decade ===

==== 2014 ====
[[File:Rabe Crater perspective ESA310887.jpg|thumb|[[Rabe (crater)|Rabe crater]], 2014]]
* In October 2014, ESA reported ''Mars Express'' was healthy after the [[C/2013 A1|Comet Siding Spring]] flyby of Mars on 19 October<ref name="ESA-20141020">{{cite web |last=Denis |first=Michel |title=Spacecraft in great shape – our mission continues |url=http://blogs.esa.int/mex/2014/10/20/spacecraft-in-great-shape-our-mission-continues/ |date=October 20, 2014 |work=[[European Space Agency]] |access-date=October 21, 2014 }}</ref> &mdash; as were all NASA Mars orbiters<ref name="NASA-20141019">{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |last3=Jones |first3=Nancy |last4=Steigerwald |first4=Bill |title=All Three NASA Mars Orbiters Healthy After Comet Flyby |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4347 |date=October 19, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=October 20, 2014 }}</ref> and [[Indian Space Research Organisation|ISRO's]] orbiter, the [[Mars Orbiter Mission]].<ref name="ISRO MOM safe after Mars comet flyby">{{cite news |author=Staff |title=I'm safe and sound, tweets MOM after comet sighting |url=http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/science/im-safe-and-sound-tweets-mom-after-comet-sighting/article6520803.ece |date=October 21, 2014 |work=[[The Hindu]] |access-date=October 21, 2014 }}</ref>

==== 2016 ====
* During a [[Phobos (moon)|Phobos]] flyby in January 2016, ''Mars Express'' again observed [[solar wind]] proton backscattering from the moon's surface. This was only second such observation by the spacecraft (first occured in 2008) and, as of 2025, this intermittency remains unexplained.<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA’s Mars Express unravels mystery of martian moon using 'fake' flybys |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/ESA_s_Mars_Express_unravels_mystery_of_martian_moon_using_fake_flybys |access-date=2025-05-25 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Futaana |first=Yoshifumi |last2=Holmström |first2=Mats |last3=Fedorov |first3=Andrey |last4=Barabash |first4=Stas |date=2021 |title=Does Phobos Reflect Solar Wind Protons? Mars Express Special Flyby Operations With and Without the Presence of Phobos |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1029/2021JE006969 |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |language=en |volume=126 |issue=11 |pages=e2021JE006969 |doi=10.1029/2021JE006969 |issn=2169-9100}}</ref>
* October 19: Assisted with data collection and transfer for the [[Schiaparelli EDM lander]] landing.
[[File:Martian south pole during summer by HRSC.jpg|thumb|South pole of Mars by ''Mars Express'', 2015 (ESA/DLR/FU Berlin)]]

==== 2017 ====
*On 19 June, the spacecraft took a notable image spanning from the North Pole up to [[Alba Mons]] and even farther south.<ref name="esamars">{{Cite web|url=http://www.sci-news.com/space/esa-image-mars-05553.html|title=ESA Releases Stunning New Image of Mars &#124; Space Exploration &#124; Sci-News.com|website=Breaking Science News &#124; Sci-News.com|date=December 20, 2017 }}</ref> The image was released in December 20, 2017, and was captured by HRSC.<ref name="esamars" /><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.dlr.de/EN/Service/about-relaunch/explanation.html?cms_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dlr.de%2Fdlr%2Fen%2Fdesktopdefault.aspx%2Ftabid-10081%2F151_read-25327%2F|title=Relaunch explanation|website=NAV_NODE DLR Portal|access-date=October 19, 2019|archive-date=October 19, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191019051624/https://www.dlr.de/EN/Service/about-relaunch/explanation.html?cms_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dlr.de%2Fdlr%2Fen%2Fdesktopdefault.aspx%2Ftabid-10081%2F151_read-25327%2F }}</ref>
[[File:Elongated cloud on Mars – annotated ESA401960.jpg|thumb|Elongated cloud on Mars, 2018<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA Science & Technology - Elongated cloud on Mars &ndash; 10 October |url=https://sci.esa.int/web/mars-express/-/60882-elongated-cloud-on-mars-10-october |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=sci.esa.int}}</ref>]]

==== 2018 ====
[[File:Mars-SubglacialWater-SouthPoleRegion-20180725.jpg|thumb|Mars [[Planum Australe|South Pole]], site of [[Water on Mars|subglacial water]] (July 25, 2018)|354x354px]]
*Activated new AOCMS software which includes a gyroless attitude estimator to prolong the lifetime of the spacecraft's laser gyros<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mars Express v2.0 |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Mars_Express_v2.0 |access-date=April 12, 2022 |website=ESA.int }}</ref>
*In July 2018, a discovery was reported based on MARSIS [[radar]] studies, of a [[Water on Mars#Subglacial liquid water|subglacial lake]] on [[Mars]], {{convert|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} below the [[Planum Australe|southern polar ice cap]], and about {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide, the first known stable body of water on Mars.<ref name="SCI-20180725">{{cite journal |author=Orosei, R.|display-authors=etal|title=Radar evidence of subglacial liquid water on Mars |date=July 25, 2018 |journal=[[Science (journal)|Science]] |volume=361|issue=6401|pages=490–493|doi=10.1126/science.aar7268 |pmid=30045881|arxiv=2004.04587|hdl=11573/1148029|doi-access=free |bibcode=2018Sci...361..490O}}</ref><ref name="NYT-20180725">{{cite news |last1=Chang |first1=Kenneth |last2=Overbye |first2=Dennis |author-link2=Dennis Overbye |title=A Watery Lake Is Detected on Mars, Raising the Potential for Alien Life - The discovery suggests that watery conditions beneath the icy southern polar cap may have provided one of the critical building blocks for life on the red planet. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/25/science/mars-liquid-alien-life.html |date=July 25, 2018 |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Huge reservoir of liquid water detected under the surface of Mars |url=https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2018-07/aaft-hro072318.php |work=[[EurekAlert]]|date=July 25, 2018 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Liquid water 'lake' revealed on Mars |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-44952710 |work=[[BBC News]]|date=July 25, 2018 |access-date=July 25, 2018 }}</ref>
* December 2018: ''Mars Express'' relays images of the 80-kilometer wide [[Korolev (Martian crater)|Korolev Crater]] filled with approximately 2200 cubic kilometers of water ice on the Martian surface.<ref name="DLR">{{cite web |title=A winter wonderland in red and white – Korolev Crater on Mars |url=https://www.dlr.de/dlr/en/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-10081/151_read-31614/#/gallery/33106 |website=German Aerospace Center (DLR) |access-date=December 20, 2018}}</ref> Based on further evidence the crater ice is still part of much vaster ice resources at Mars poles.<ref name="TG1218">{{cite news |last=Sample |first=Ian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2018/dec/21/mars-express-beams-back-images-of-ice-filled-korolev-crater |work=The Guardian |access-date=December 21, 2018 |title=Mars Express Beams Back Images of Ice-Filled Korolev Crater |date=December 21, 2018 }}</ref>

==== 2019 ====
*Based on data from the HRSC camera, there is geological evidence of an ancient planet-wide groundwater system.<ref>{{cite journal | doi = 10.1029/2018JE005802 | pmid = 31007995 | pmc = 6472477 | title = Geological Evidence of Planet-Wide Groundwater System on Mars | date = 2019 | last1 = Salese | first1 = Francesco | last2 = Pondrelli | first2 = Monica | last3 = Neeseman  | first3 = Alicia | last4 = Schmidt | first4 = Gene | last5 = Ori  | first5 = Gian Gabriele | journal = Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets | volume = 124 | issue = 2 | pages = 374–395 | bibcode = 2019JGRE..124..374S}}</ref><ref name="ESA">{{cite web|url=http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Space_Science/Mars_Express/First_evidence_of_planet-wide_groundwater_system_on_Mars|work=ESA|access-date=February 28, 2019|title=First evidence of planet-wide groundwater system on Mars}}</ref>

==== 2020 ====
*Between March and April 2020, ''Mars Express'' (along with other interplanetary missions by ESA) was briefly placed into a largely unattended safe configuration with science instruments turned off due to the worsening [[COVID-19 pandemic]] and the need to reduce on-site personnel at [[European Space Operations Centre|ESOC]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA scales down science mission operations amid pandemic |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/ESA_scales_down_science_mission_operations_amid_pandemic |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Space missions return to science |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Space_missions_return_to_science |access-date=2025-05-20 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
*In September 2020, a discovery was reported based on MARSIS radar studies, of [[Water on Mars#Subglacial liquid water|three more subglacial lakes]] on Mars, {{convert|1.5|km|mi|abbr=on}} below the [[Planum Australe|southern polar ice cap]]. The size of the first lake found, and the largest, has been corrected to {{convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} wide. It is surrounded by 3 smaller lakes, each a few kilometres wide.<ref name="NatAstro">{{cite journal |last1=Lauro |first1=Sebastian Emanuel |last2=Pettinelli |first2=Elena |last3=Caprarelli |first3=Graziella |last4=Guallini |first4=Luca |last5=Rossi |first5=Angelo Pio |last6=Mattei |first6=Elisabetta |last7=Cosciotti |first7=Barbara |last8=Cicchetti |first8=Andrea |last9=Soldovieri |first9=Francesco |last10=Cartacci |first10=Marco |last11=Di Paolo |first11=Federico |last12=Noschese |first12=Raffaella |last13=Orosei |first13=Roberto |title=Multiple subglacial water bodies below the south pole of Mars unveiled by new MARSIS data |journal=Nature Astronomy |date=September 28, 2020 |volume=5 |pages=63–70 |doi=10.1038/s41550-020-1200-6 |publisher=Springer Nature Limited |arxiv=2010.00870 |s2cid=222125007 |issn=2397-3366}}</ref>
*A study published in December 2020 in [[JGR Planets|''JGR Planets'']] utilized the wide field of view of the [[Visual Monitoring Camera]], in combination with other instruments on ''Mars Express'' and other orbiters, to describe the life cycle of a large elongated [[orographic cloud]] that grows and fades on a daily basis during spring and summer over [[Arsia Mons]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hernández-Bernal |first=J. |last2=Sánchez-Lavega |first2=A. |last3=del Río-Gaztelurrutia |first3=T. |last4=Ravanis |first4=E. |last5=Cardesín-Moinelo |first5=A. |last6=Connour |first6=K. |last7=Tirsch |first7=D. |last8=Ordóñez-Etxeberria |first8=I. |last9=Gondet |first9=B. |last10=Wood |first10=S. |last11=Titov |first11=D. |last12=Schneider |first12=N. M. |last13=Hueso |first13=R. |last14=Jaumann |first14=R. |last15=Hauber |first15=E. |date=2021 |title=An Extremely Elongated Cloud Over Arsia Mons Volcano on Mars: I. Life Cycle |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JE006517 |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |language=en |volume=126 |issue=3 |pages=e2020JE006517 |doi=10.1029/2020JE006517 |issn=2169-9100}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Mars Express unlocks the secrets of curious cloud |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Mars_Express_unlocks_the_secrets_of_curious_cloud |access-date=2025-05-21 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref> A follow-up study published in 2022 used [[computational modeling]] to describe the physical mechanisms behind the cloud's formation.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hernández-Bernal |first=J. |last2=Spiga |first2=A. |last3=Sánchez-Lavega |first3=A. |last4=del Río-Gaztelurrutia |first4=T. |last5=Forget |first5=F. |last6=Millour |first6=E. |date=2022 |title=An Extremely Elongated Cloud Over Arsia Mons Volcano on Mars: 2. Mesoscale Modeling |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2022JE007352 |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |language=en |volume=127 |issue=10 |pages=e2022JE007352 |doi=10.1029/2022JE007352 |issn=2169-9100}}</ref>

==== 2021 ====
* Two studies published in December 2020<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Fedorova |first=Anna |last2=Montmessin |first2=Franck |last3=Korablev |first3=Oleg |last4=Lefèvre |first4=Franck |last5=Trokhimovskiy |first5=Alexander |last6=Bertaux |first6=Jean-Loup |date=2021 |title=Multi-Annual Monitoring of the Water Vapor Vertical Distribution on Mars by SPICAM on Mars Express |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2020JE006616 |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |language=en |volume=126 |issue=1 |pages=e2020JE006616 |doi=10.1029/2020JE006616 |issn=2169-9100}}</ref> and January 2021,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Chaufray |first=J. -Y. |last2=Gonzalez-Galindo |first2=F. |last3=Lopez-Valverde |first3=M. A. |last4=Forget |first4=F. |last5=Quémerais |first5=E. |last6=Bertaux |first6=J. -L. |last7=Montmessin |first7=F. |last8=Chaffin |first8=M. |last9=Schneider |first9=N. |last10=Clarke |first10=J. T. |last11=Leblanc |first11=F. |last12=Modolo |first12=R. |last13=Yelle |first13=R. V. |date=2021-01-01 |title=Study of the hydrogen escape rate at Mars during martian years 28 and 29 from comparisons between SPICAM/Mars express observations and GCM-LMD simulations |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0019103518306985 |journal=Icarus |series=From Mars Express to Exomars |volume=353 |pages=113498 |doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2019.113498 |issn=0019-1035}}</ref> that analyzed SPICAM data, show that water escape to space is accelerated by dust storms and Mars' proximity to the Sun, and suggest that some water may have retreated underground.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mars water loss shaped by seasons and storms |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Mars_water_loss_shaped_by_seasons_and_storms |access-date=2025-05-22 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref>
* A study published in April 2021, that used SPICAM data to analyze the relationship between ozone and water vapour in the atmosphere of Mars, identified a previously unknown problem with climate models, that might be relevant also to studying the Earth's atmosphere.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Better understanding of Earth’s atmospheric chemistry from studying Mars? |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/Better_understanding_of_Earth_s_atmospheric_chemistry_from_studying_Mars |access-date=2025-05-24 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Lefèvre |first=F. |last2=Trokhimovskiy |first2=A. |last3=Fedorova |first3=A. |last4=Baggio |first4=L. |last5=Lacombe |first5=G. |last6=Määttänen |first6=A. |last7=Bertaux |first7=J.-L. |last8=Forget |first8=F. |last9=Millour |first9=E. |last10=Venot |first10=O. |last11=Bénilan |first11=Y. |last12=Korablev |first12=O. |last13=Montmessin |first13=F. |date=2021 |title=Relationship Between the Ozone and Water Vapor Columns on Mars as Observed by SPICAM and Calculated by a Global Climate Model |url=https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2021JE006838 |journal=Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets |language=en |volume=126 |issue=4 |pages=e2021JE006838 |doi=10.1029/2021JE006838 |issn=2169-9100}}</ref>
* In November 2021, an experiment was performed to test whether ''Mars Express'' and the [[Trace Gas Orbiter|TGO]] lander relay communications radio could be used to perform [[radio occultation]] science,<ref>{{Cite web |title=ESA Mars orbiters: two-for-one science – Mars Express |url=https://blogs.esa.int/mex/2021/11/17/esa-mars-orbiters-two-for-one-science/ |access-date=April 11, 2022 }}</ref> as well as a series of tests of data relay from the CNSA [[Zhurong rover|''Zhurong'' rover]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mars Express keeps an ear out for Chinese rover – Mars Express |url=https://blogs.esa.int/mex/2021/10/27/mars-express-keeps-an-ear-out-for-chinese-rover/ |access-date=April 11, 2022 }}</ref>

==== 2022 ====
* On 14 February 2022, ''Mars Express'' observed a rare astronomical event — [[Deimos (moon)|Deimos]] passing in front of Jupiter and its [[Galilean moons]]. Measuring the duration of the occultation enabled a more precise determination of the position and orbit of Deimos.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2022 |title=Mars Express Observes Rare Celestial Alignments in Solar System {{!}} Sci.News |url=https://www.sci.news/space/mars-express-alignments-11295.html |access-date=2025-06-01 |website=Sci.News: Breaking Science News |language=en-US}}</ref>
* The onboard software of the MARSIS experiment was upgraded from [[Windows 98]] to Mars 2022 in order to improve the performance of the instrument.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Software Upgrade for 19-Year-Old Martian Water-Spotter |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Software_upgrade_for_19-year-old_martian_water-spotter |access-date=July 2, 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=This Mars Orbiter Is Finally Getting A Software Update From Windows 98 |date=June 29, 2022 |url=https://www.slashgear.com/912406/this-mars-orbiter-is-finally-getting-a-software-update-from-windows-98/ |access-date=July 2, 2022 }}</ref>

==== 2023 ====
* In January 2023, the first global high-resolution map of aqueous minerals (formed through interaction with water) at Mars was published using data from ''Mars Exp''<nowiki/>''ress''<nowiki/>' OMEGA and [[Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter|MRO]]'s CRISM instruments.<ref>{{Cite web |title=New water map of Mars will prove invaluable for future exploration |url=https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Mars_Express/New_water_map_of_Mars_will_prove_invaluable_for_future_exploration |access-date=2025-05-18 |website=www.esa.int |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Carter |first1=John |last2=Riu |first2=Lucie |last3=Poulet |first3=François |last4=Bibring |first4=Jean-Pierre |last5=Langevin |first5=Yves |last6=Gondet |first6=Brigitte |date=2023 |title=A Mars orbital catalog of aqueous alteration signatures (MOCAAS) |url=https://linkinghub.elsevier.com/retrieve/pii/S0019103522002664 |journal=Icarus |language=en |volume=389 |pages=115164 |doi=10.1016/j.icarus.2022.115164|bibcode=2023Icar..38915164C }}</ref>
* June 3: To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the spacecraft's launch, a [[livestream]] of images from the [[Visual Monitoring Camera]] was streamed online, marking the first livestream direct from Mars.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Tune in for first Mars livestream |url=https://www.esa.int/Enabling_Support/Operations/Tune_in_for_first_Mars_livestream |access-date=June 2, 2023 }}</ref>