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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) |
The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), a spacecraft launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in August 2005, has successfully completed over half of its nearly 500 million kilometers journey to the Red Planet and has begun transmitting data related to Mars back to Earth at a speed of 6 megabits per second.
NASA scientists have reported that this 2-ton spacecraft, equipped with the most advanced scientific instruments, is expected to enter orbit around Mars in March 2006. This orbiter, along with two other spacecraft currently orbiting Mars, will form a trio of spacecraft dedicated to Mars research.
| Mars has a circumference 1.52 times that of Earth and is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. Mars shares several similarities with Earth, including a four-season climate, ice caps at its poles, an atmosphere with clouds, winds, and dust storms, and a day lasting about 24 hours. Due to its relatively thick atmosphere, many believe that there may be the potential for life on Mars. Additionally, the presence of numerous dry riverbeds suggests that liquid water flowed on the surface of Mars in the past. Mars has two natural satellites: Deimos and Phobos. (Source: Wikipedia) |
The scientific instruments on the new Mars orbiter are tasked with continuing the search for evidence of water on Mars, capturing images of proposed landing sites for future robotic missions, and relaying information from other spacecraft back to Earth.
NASA hopes that, with the new remote imaging equipment, scientists will obtain the clearest images yet of the rusty surface of the Red Planet, facilitating detailed studies of Mars. So far, only 2% of the tens of thousands of images captured by previous missions of Mars’ surface are considered to be of high fidelity.
Designed to operate until 2010, this new Mars orbiter’s fuel supply may extend its mission until 2014, according to NASA scientists.
