ESA Science & Technology - Mars

Origin of name The Romans named the planet after their god of war. Naming convention Large craters: scientists who have contributed to the study of Mars, writers and others who have contributed to the lore of Mars. Large valleys: name for Mars or star in various languages. ESA Mission Mars Express

Mars Express
Mars Express, so called because of the rapid and streamlined development time, represents ESA's first visit to another planet in the Solar System. Borrowing technology from the Mars 96 mission and ESA's Rosetta mission, Mars Express is helping to answer fundamental questions about the geology, atmosphere, surface environment, history of water and potential for life on Mars.

Physical Properties

Orbital Parameters

Notes

• Sidereal orbit period
  The time taken by the planet to complete exactly one orbit around the Sun with respect to the celestial sphere.
• Sidereal rotation period
  The time in which the planet rotates around its axis exactly 360° with respect to the celestial sphere.
• Length of a day
  Defined as the time between two successive sunrises over the meridian.
• Magnetic dipole moment
  Calculated as the ratio of the magnetic field strength at the equator divided by the cube of the equatorial radius.