Most Mars Express scientific payload operations were suspended between 22 August and 27 September, due to a period of solar conjunction. During this time, however, radio science (MaRS) experiments of the solar corona were carried out. On the egress from conjunction all spacecraft systems were nominal.
After resuming payload operations, the pericentre position in the orbit currently is off by about 1 minute with respect to the frozen orbit prediction. Therefore, it may take up to 2 weeks to get back to the frozen orbit by using nominal wheel off-loadings (no correction manoeuvre is required).
Science Planning Status
