This month the European Space Agency’s Mars Express is undertaking a series of fly-bys to study Phobos, the larger of the two Martian moons.
The spacecraft is on a mission to study the atmosphere, surface and subsurface of Mars, and its instruments are now being used to investigate Phobos too.
The spacecraft is carrying a unique gravity experiment that may reveal the distribution of mass within this intriguing moon.
It made its closest approach – just 50 kilometres above the surface of Phobos – on 3 March, and several other fly-bys will take place in March 2010.
Overall mission
The Mars Express has been in orbit around Mars since December 2003. One of its main objectives is to search for traces of water from deep underground up to the highest layers of the Martian atmosphere.
In addition, Mars Express has trained its instruments on Earth to study our own place in the universe, and the spacecraft also provides relay communication services between the Earth and the two NASA rovers which have been on the surface of Mars since 2004.
Learn more
Find out more about the Mars Express mission
Watch an animation of the Mars Express making its closest approach to Phobos (based on actual orbital data)
Check out Astronomy Ireland’s Facebook page for its “Mars month” activities
Get mission updates from the European Space Agency’s Twitter feed
