Radar of Mars Express ready for action.

Looks like no one has noticed this but antennas of MARSIS radar have been opened succesfully around mid June with initial tests few days later followed by commissioning phase which should be over on 4th of July.

MARSIS is able to penetrate softer surface down to depth of couple kilometers which makes it first instrument capable to studying subsurface features of planet other than Earth. After commissioning it's ready to start mapping subsurface features including searching water/ice while above planet's night side and study ionosphere while above day side.

I bet one of the first places they scan is area in Elysium Planitia where photographed surface features have been interpreted as dust covered ice rafts by specialists.
So in month two we can expect some interesting data considering how much there's water in mars and where it is.



www.esa.int...
www.esa.int...


www.esa.int...
marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov...
www.marsis.com...