Traces of Martian life in Ice on Mars and Mars Express Close Flybys of Martian Moon Phobos

ESA's Mars Express found layers of water ice and dust at the Martian north pole, and crater containing water ice. The ice is definitely frozen water since carbon dioxide ice had already disappeared from the north polar cap at the time the images were taken (late summer)

Credit: ESA

Mars Express has returned images from the Phobos flyby of 9 January 2011. Mars Express passed Mars’ largest moon at a distance of 100km. 

Stereo-1 channel image of Phobos

 

3D Image (red-cyan anaglyph) 

 
 SRC-Images

 Sequence of 5 HRSC-channels

 

 Planned landing site of the Russian Phobos-Grunt mission

Contacts and sources:

Markus Bauer

ESA Science and Robotic Exploration Communication Officer