On December 20 Mars Express fired a short thruster burst to put it into position to orbit the planet.

The journal Science published the Mars Express results this month.

The lander detached from the Mars Express on Dec. 19.

Similar instruments have since been flown on Mars Express, launched in 2003.

Mars Express observed this region in 2005, yielding a digital terrain model and color pictures.

Mars Express has discovered methane in the Martian atmosphere.

Since orbit insertion Mars Express has been progressively fulfilling its original scientific goals.

All contact with it was lost upon its separation from the Mars Express six days before its scheduled entry into the atmosphere.

Mars Express, the first Western European mission to Mars launched in 2003.

Launched on June 2, 2004, Mars Express is the first planetary mission attempted by the agency.