Mission Objectives Overview                                           ===========================                                                                                                                 The Mars Express orbiter was equipped with the following selected     payload complement, representing about 116 kg in mass, with the       following associated broad scientific objectives:                                                                                           Energetic Neutral Atoms Imager   ASPERA                               - Study of interaction of the upper atmosphere with the                 interplanetary medium and solar wind.                               - Characterisation of the near-Mars plasma and neutral gas              environment.                                                                                                                              High-Resolution Stereo Camera   HRSC                                  - Characterisation of the surface structure and morphology at high      spatial resolution                                                    (up to 10 m/pixel) and super resolution (up to 2 m/pixel).          - Characterisation of the surface topography at high spatial and        vertical resolution.                                                - Terrain compositional classification.                                                                                                     Radio Science Experiment   MaRS -                                     - Characterisation of the atmospheric vertical density, pressure, and   temperature profiles as a function of height.                       - Derivation of vertical ionospheric electron density profiles.       - Determination of dielectric and scattering properties of the          surface in specific target areas.                                   - Study of gravity anomalies.                                         - Study of the solar corona.                                                                                                                Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding   MARSIS   - Study of the subsurface structure at km scale down to the             permafrost.                                                         - Mapping of the distribution of water detected in the upper portions   of the crust.                                                       - Characterisation of the surface roughness and topography.                                                                                 Lander Communications Package   MELACOM                               - This telecommunications subsystem constitutes the data relay          payload of Mars Express.                                            - Its primary mission was to provide the data services for the          Beagle-2 lander.                                                    - It was designed to relay at least 10 Mbits of information per day.                                                                        IR Mineralogical Mapping Spectrometer   OMEGA                         - Global mineralogical mapping at 100-m resolution.                   - Identification and characterisation of specific mineral and           molecular phases of the surface.                                    - Identification and characterisation of photometric units.           - Mapping of their spatial distribution and abundance.                - Study of the time and space distribution of atmospheric particles.                                                                        Planetary Fourier Spectrometer   PFS                                  - Characterisation of the global atmospheric circulation.             - Mapping of the atmospheric composition.                             - Study of the mineralogical composition and of surface atmosphere      interactions.                                                                                                                             UV and IR Atmospheric Spectrometer   SPICAM                           - Study of the global structure and composition of the Martian          atmosphere.                                                         - Study of surface-atmosphere interactions.                                                                                                 Visual Monitoring Camera   VMC                                        - Stand-alone digital camera to take colour snapshots of the Beagle     lander.                                                             - Operation of this camera will occur during separation of the lander                                                                       Geochemistry and Exobiology Lander  BEAGLE-2                                                                                                The top-level scientific objectives of the lander are:                  - Geological investigation of the local terrain and rocks (light        element chemistry, composition, mineralogy, petrology, age).        - Investigation of the oxidation state of the Martian surface.        - Full characterisation of the atmospheric composition.               - Search for criteria that demonstrated life processes appeared in      the past.                                                           - Determination of trace atmospheric gases.                                                                                               When folded up Beagle 2 resembles a pocket watch. However, as soon as it comes to a halt on the Martian surface its outer casting will open to reveal the inner workings. Firstly the solar panels will unfold -  catching sunlight the charge the batteries which will power the       lander and its experiments throughout the mission. Next, a robotic    arm will spring to life. Attached to the end of the arm is the PAW    (Position Adjustable Workload) where most of the experiments are      located. These include a pair of stereo cameras, a microscope, two    types of spectrometer, and a torch to illuminate surfaces. The PAW    also houses the corer/grinder and the mole, two devices for           collecting rock and soil samples for analysis.                                                                                                                                                                    Scientific Objectives                                                                                                                        Gas Analysis Package                                                   This is where investigations most relevant to detecting past or       present life will be conducted. The instrument has twelve ovens in    which rock and soil samples can be heated gradually in the presence   of oxygen. The carbon dioxide generated at each temperature will be   delivered to a mass spectrometer, which will measure its abundance  and the ratio of carbon-12 to carbon-13. The mass spectrometer will   also study other elements and look for methane in samples of          atmosphere. The temperature at which the carbon dioxide is            generated will reveal its nature, as different carbon bearing         materials combust at different temperatures.                                                                                               Environmental sensors                                                   A variety of tiny sensors scattered about the Beagle 2 lander will    measure different aspects of the Martian environment including        atmospheric pressure ,air temperature and wind speed and              direction; ultra-violet (UV radiation; dust fall out and the          density and pressure of the upper atmosphere during Beagle 2's        descent through the atmosphere.                                                                                                           Two stereo cameras                                                      The cameras will provide digital pictures from which a 3D model of    the area within the reach of the robotic arm may be constructed.      As the PAW cannot be operated in real time from Earth, this 3D        model will be used to guide the instruments into position             alongside target rocks and soil and to provide information on the     geological setting of the landing site.                                                                                                   Microscope                                                             The microscope will pick out features a few thousandths of a          millimetre across on rock surfaces exposed by the grinder. It will    reveal the texture of the rock, which will help determine whether     it is of sedimentary or volcanic origin.                                                                                                   Mossbauer Spectrometer                                                 It will investigate the mineral composition of rocks by irradiating   exposed rock surfaces and soil with gamma rays emitted by an          isotopic source, cobalt-57, and then measuring the spectrum of the    gamma-rays reflected back. In particular, the nature of the iron      minerals in the pristine interior and weathered surface of the        rocks will be compared to determine the oxidising nature of the       present atmosphere.                                                                                                                        X-ray spectrometer                                                     This will measure the elemental composition of rocks by bombarding    exposed rock surfaces with X-rays from four radioactive sources       (two iron-55 and two cadmium-109). The rocks will emit lower energy   X-rays characteristic of the elements present. Rock ages will be      estimated using the property that the isotope potassium-40 decays     to argon-40. The X-ray spectrometer will provide the potassium        measure and the GAP will measure argon trapped in rocks.                                                                                   Mole                                                                   The mole will be able to crawl up to several metres across the        surface at a rate of 1cm every six seconds. Once it has reached a     boulder, it will burrow underground to collect samples in a cavity    in its tip. Alternatively, the PAW can be positioned such that the    mole will burrow underground to collect samples possibly 1.5m below   the surface.                                                                                                                               Corer/Grinder                                                           The corer/grinder consists of a drill bit which can either be         moved over a surface to remove weathered material, or be              positioned in one spot to drill a core of hopefully pristine          samples.