MARS EXPRESS MRS: Mars Global Gravity Measurements from 2010-2012

A Mars Express Radio Science dataset provides global gravity measurements for Mars. The data was collected by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration during the extended mission phase from 2010-01-01 to 2012-12-31, with a specific sample covering 2012-07 16T07:27:39.000 to 2012-07-16T11:02:31.500. The dataset is hosted on datagov and was last updated on 2026-03-13.

Use Cases

• Modeling the internal structure of Mars based on global gravity data.
• Analyzing temporal variations in Mars's gravitational field based on time-series measurements.
• Calibrating or validating orbital dynamics models for the Mars Express spacecraft.
• Studying seasonal mass redistribution on Mars, such as polar ice cap changes, inferred from gravity anomalies.

Strengths

• Data originates from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, a highly authoritative source.
• Covers a defined two-year extended mission period from 2010-01-01 to 2012-12-31.
• Provides a specific, high-resolution time sample from 2012-07-16, suggesting precise timestamping.

Limitations

• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download.
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment.
• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download.

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Collected via the Mars Express spacecraft Radio Science instrument.

Time Range

2010-01-01 to 2012-12-31 (extended mission), with a sample from 2012-07-16.

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 15:22:21.393097; freshness should be verified.

Geography

Mars (global coverage)