Mars Express Set to Operate Until 2034 After Software Update

The European Space Agency (ESA) has announced a significant software update for its Mars orbiter, Mars Express, aimed at extending its operational life until 2034. This update will enable the spacecraft to continue its mission more than three decades after its initial arrival at the Red Planet.

Mars Express has been orbiting Mars since December 2003, making it the second oldest active spacecraft in the vicinity after NASA's Mars Odyssey. However, concerns about the longevity of its gyroscopes--four out of six were deteriorating faster than anticipated--had previously raised alarms about the mission's future. In 2017, ESA officials recognized that without intervention, the mission could have ended within two years.

In response to these challenges, ESA implemented a new operational mode in 2018 that primarily relies on star sensors for orientation, reducing dependence on the gyroscopes. Although this strategy extended the spacecraft's life, issues persisted as star sensor data could become unreliable during certain maneuvers, particularly when blinded by sunlight. This situation occurred in approximately 25% of daily maneuvers, necessitating the activation of gyroscopes.

With the latest software update, Mars Express can autonomously determine when a star sensor is inoperative during such maneuvers and activate the gyroscopes only when absolutely necessary. As a result, the gyroscopes will now be utilized 97% less frequently, significantly enhancing their longevity.

ESA anticipates that these advancements will further prolong the orbiter's operational capability. Initially, projections indicated that Mars Express would only last until the mid-2020s, but the new developments suggest that it could support the Japanese Martian Moon Exploration (MMX) mission, scheduled to launch in 2026 and arrive at Mars in 2027. This mission aims to collect samples from the Martian moon Phobos and return them to Earth by 2030, deploying a rover named Idefix, which is being developed in collaboration between Germany and France.

Thanks to the recent updates, Mars Express is now expected to remain functional at least until 2029, with the possibility of extending its mission until 2034, providing valuable support for upcoming space exploration initiatives.