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.
Find out more about space activities in our 23 Member States, and understand how ESA works together with their national agencies, institutions and organisations.
Exploring our Solar System and unlocking the secrets of the Universe
Go to topicProtecting life and infrastructure on Earth and in orbit
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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Ulyxis Rupes is a large cliff, just visible in the image as indicated here by arrows. South is to the left, north is to the right. North-facing cliffs show layers of ice and dust, known as polar layered deposits (box 1). About halfway across the image, there are large ice deposits that are heavily covered (box 2). The overlying material has been blown into long dunes by the prevailing winds in this region.
With increasing distance from the south pole, the ice becomes confined to larger impact craters (box 3). Puzzling parallel structures in the martian dust can also be seen (boxes 4 and 5). Although the origin of these features is uncertain, it is possible that they are the result of underlying ice deposits.