The European Space Agency (ESA) is Europe’s gateway to space. Its mission is to shape the development of Europe’s space capability and ensure that investment in space continues to deliver benefits to the citizens of Europe and the world.
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Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
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Go to topicUsing space to benefit citizens and meet future challenges on Earth
Go to topicMaking space accessible and developing the technologies for the future
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Meridiani Planum, at the northern edge of the southern highlands of Mars, shows five remarkable features. The impact crater in box 1 is 50 km wide and covered in dark material, likely to be volcanic ash. This has been blown out of the crater by north-easterly winds to create the dark markings in box 2, and the patch in box 4. In the lee of high ridges, more volcanic ash has accumulated in box 5. The old crater in box 3 is covered in lighter material.