Mars Categorical maps the Purple Planet’s south pole

Mars Categorical, seen right here in an artist’s idea, arrived at Mars in 2003, and has continued orbiting and researching on the Purple Planet for over 20 years. Credit score: NASA/JPL/Corby Waste, Public area, by way of Wikimedia Commons

On Jan. 18, 2004, the European Area Company’s Mars Express efficiently mapped Mars’ south pole, and, in a primary, revealed the presence of each water ice and carbon dioxide ice.

Launched June 2, 2003, the Mars Categorical orbiter arrived on the Purple Planet on Dec. 25 of the identical 12 months to start its mission of finding out the planet’s ambiance, floor, and subsurface. The probe is supplied with the Mars Superior Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS), OMEGA (a visual and infrared spectrometer), and the Excessive Decision Stereo Digicam (HRSC). With these and different devices, Mars Categorical analyzes the construction beneath the planet’s floor and searches for liquid water and ice, and maps and collects information on the planet’s mineralogical construction, its floor, and its poles.

Mars Categorical continues its investigations in the present day, over 20 years after its detection of ice at Mars’ south pole, making it second solely to NASA’s Mars Odyssey within the longevity of its ongoing mission across the Purple Planet.