Mars Express instrument under investigation (Forwarded)

ESA News
http://www.esa.int

13 September 2005

Mars Express instrument under investigation

ESA has started a technical investigation into the Planetary Fourier
Spectrometer (PFS) on board Mars Express, after a problem developed in
the instrument a few months ago.

Vibration effects (induced by spacecraft activities) have been suggested
as a cause for the observed behaviour. However no source has yet been
identified and other causes internal to the instrument cannot be fully
ruled out.

In order to establish the exact cause of the problem, ESA's Mars Express
team is setting up an investigations board involving experts from the
Mission Science Working Team, ESA, industry and the Italian Space Agency
(ASI).

This could lead to resuming scientific observations using modified
procedures but, until all existing data and a number of additional
measurements currently being planned have been examined, it is too early
to draw a conclusion on the operational status of the PFS instrument.

The PFS instrument has performed without any such problems for almost
two years, following the launch of Mars Express in June 2003. In this
period, the instrument has provided much new information on the global
composition and movement of the Martian atmosphere.

Even if it is found that PFS is no longer fully functional, it is only
one element in the scientific package on board Mars Express. The other
six instruments (HRSC, OMEGA, ASPERA, SPICAM, MARSIS, MaRS) are all
currently working well and are providing new insights into the Red
Planet and its evolution. These remaining instruments will continue the
scientific success of the Mars Express mission.

For more information:

Fred Jansen
ESA Mars Express Mission Manager
E-mail: fjansen @ rssd.esa.int

More about...

* Looking at Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Express/index.html
* Planetary Fourier Spectrometer
http://www.pfs-results.it

Related articles

* Mars Express confirms methane in the Martian atmosphere
http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMZ0B57ESD_index_0.html
* Orbiter instruments
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...C75V9ED_0.html
* Chances of life are linked to water
http://www.esa.int/esaSC/SEMN3AR1VED_index_0.html
* Geography of Mars
http://www.esa.int/SPECIALS/Mars_Exp...PNXLDMD_0.html

Orbiter instruments

* High Resolution Stereo Camera
http://berlinadmin.dlr.de/Missions/e...indexeng.shtml

IMAGE CAPTION:
[http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEMSEK7X9DE_index_1.html]
ESA's first mission to the Red Planet, Mars Express, was launched in
June 2003. It comprised an orbiter carrying seven scientific instruments
to probe the planet's atmosphere, structure and geology, including a
search for evidence of hidden water. The main spacecraft released the
UK's small Beagle 2 lander to gather and test rock and soil samples on
the surface. As well as its science objectives, Mars Express also
provides relay communication services between Earth and landers deployed
on the surface by other nations, thus forming a centrepiece of the
international effort in Mars exploration.

Mars Express is a pilot project for new methods of funding and managing
ESA space missions, built more quickly and launched at a much lower cost
than any previous mission of a similar nature.

Credits: ESA