Mars Express has fully accomplished its objectives
set for 2015-2016. The mission provides unique
observation capabilities amongst the flotilla of
spacecraft investigating Mars. The mission has been
confirmed till the end of 2018. The science case for
the mission extension until the end of 2020 has been submitted
to the ESA Science Program Committee.
The observation program proposed for 2019-2020
includes both augmenting the coverage and
extending long-time series,
as well as new elements
and potentially new opportunities for discoveries. It
will be boosted by collaboration and synergies with
NASA’s MAVEN, ESA-Roscosmos Trace Gas
Orbiter and other missions. The talk will give the
mission status, review the recent science highlights,
and outline future plans.