Joining forces around Mars (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

16 January 2004

Joining forces around Mars

Today, ESA's Mars Express orbiter flies almost directly over the NASA Spirit
rover at Gusev Crater at an altitude of about 300 kilometres. Mars Express uses
four instruments to look down, while Spirit looks up.

Mars Express will be looking down with its High Resolution Stereo Camera and
three spectrometers: OMEGA for identifying minerals in infrared and visible
wavelengths, and the Planetary Fourier Spectrometer (PFS) and SPICAM for
studying atmospheric circulation and composition. Spirit will be looking up with
its panoramic camera and an infrared spectrometer.

Spirit's science team will be able to take advantage of the special
possibilities presented by this pass of the European orbiter. The aim is to get
observations from above and below at the same time to determine the dynamics of
the atmosphere as accurately as possible.

The Mars Express observations are also expected to supplement earlier
information from two NASA Mars orbiters about the surface minerals and
geological features in Gusev Crater.

Dr Ray Arvidson, Deputy Principal Investigator for the science instruments on
the Spirit rover, said: "This is an historic opportunity." Spirit's infrared
spectrometer, the Miniature Thermal Emission Spectrometer (Mini-TES) can be used
to assess the temperatures in the Mars atmosphere from the planet's surface to a
height of several kilometres.

The Mars Express measurements are most sensitive for the upper atmosphere, while
Spirit's measurements are most sensitive for the lower portion of the atmosphere.

Agustin Chicarro, ESA's Project Scientist for Mars Express, said: "This is the
first time that two space agencies are co-operating on another planet with two
spacecraft. It is remarkable to know that one is in orbit and one is on the
surface, both taking measurements to complement each other."

* Europe goes to Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html

More about ...

* Mars Express overview
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/120379_index_0_m.html

Related articles

* Orbiter instruments
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...C75V9ED_0.html
* Geography of Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...PNXLDMD_0.html
* Water on early Mars?
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...K75V9ED_0.html
* Man with a plan: An interview with Gerhard Neukum
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMGQOXLDMD_people_0_iv.html
* If at first you don't succeed ... : An interview with Vittorio Formisano
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMIU7XLDMD_people_0_iv.html
* Looking into our futu An interview with Jean-Loup Bertaux
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMT0LXLDMD_people_0_iv.html
* Bringing space science back to Earth: An interview with Jean-Pierre Bibring
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMZQOXLDMD_people_0_iv.html

IMAGE CAPTIONS:

[Image 1:
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/M...X374OD_1.html]
The Gusev Crater landing site of NASA's Spirit rover.

Credits: NASA

[Image 2:
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/M...html#subhead1]
The Mars Express Planetary Fourier Spectrometer.

[Image 3:
http://www.esa.int/export/SPECIALS/M...html#subhead2]
Artist inpression of Mars Express orbiter making a pass over the Martian surface
at a lower point in its orbit.