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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Mottled clouds of dust within a martian dust storm are visible on the right of this image from ESA’s Mars Express. The evolution of this storm was tracked by the Visual Monitoring Camera on 29 May 2019.
This storm formed at the North Pole of Mars during the active springtime season. The bright ice cap of water ice and carbon dioxide ice is visible on the left in contrast with the darker storm. The heat of springtime causes the layer of carbon dioxide ice to sublimate, leaving behind the water ice underneath.
The storm is made up of small dust cells, forming the granular texture visible in the image. By tracking the position of the cells of dust within the storm, the wind speed was measured to be up to 140 km/h. Prevailing winds elongate the shape of the cells and the shape of the arms of the storm.