Planning For A Mars Long-Lived Weather Network
D. M. Paardekooper, C. E. Parfitt, A. G. Mcsweeney, D. P. Brandao, A. J. Ball, H. Svedhem*, European
Space Agency, Estec, Noordwijk, The Netherlands (Daniel.Paardekooper@Ext.Esa.Int), M. Khan, European
Space Agency, Esoc, Darmstadt, Germany, S. Vijendran European Space Agency, Estec, Noordwijk, The
Netherlands*Retired

Introduction:
Over The Last Three Decades, Several Mission Concepts Have Been Considered That Would Investigate
The Weather On Mars With A Combination Of Landers
And Orbiters. These Missions Would Allow Characterization Of The Martian Atmosphere As Well As Surface
And Internal Phenomena. The Following Network Missions Have Been Studied In A European Context:
Marsnet, Intermarsnet, Netlander, Marsnext And
The Mars Network Science Mission (Mnsm)[1-5].
Every Mission Concept Stated Here, Was Driven By
Scientific Interest In Order To Improve Our Understanding Of The Both The Past And Present State Of Mars.
Our Understanding Of Mars’S History, Potential
For Life And Environmental Conditions Will Improve
With The Upcoming Exomars And Mars Sample Return (Msr) Missions. These Missions Will Also Exercise European Technologies And Capabilities For Access To Mars Orbit, Mars Surface (With Mobility) And
Sub-Surface, As Well As The First Round-Trip Journey
Between Earth And Mars.