Serious doubts have emerged over whether a radar instrument on the European Space Agency's Mars Express orbiter will ever be operational. The delayed deployment of the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding (MARSIS) has been put off again, to "later this year", says ESA.
MARSIS uses two 20m (65ft) -long booms that are wrapped around the spacecraft and would be deployed using a pyrotechnic device. Concerns that deployment could result in greater than expected recoiling of the booms, which could damage the orbiter, resulted in a delay in April.
MARSIS is to study the Martian atmosphere and subsurface features, including looking for underground water. Mission managers have to decide whether to risk damage to the craft, which otherwise is working well.
Source: Flight International
