2005 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is intended to orbit Mars over a full Martian year (687 days) and gather data and images with six instruments, including a high-resolution imager. Its research objectives include the climate of Mars, investigate surface features on Mars and in particular, investigate the presence and activity of water on Mars, above and below surface, and present and past hydrothermal activity on the planet. It should identify and investigate potential landing sites for future Mars missions, and serve as communication relay for future Mars landing missions.

Developed since 2002, the MRO spacecraft was successfully launched on August 12, 2005, 7:43 a.m. EDT by an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral, Pad 41. After an about seven-month interplanetary cruise, it arrived at Mars on March 10, 2006. After successful Mars Orbit Insertion, it entered a highly-excentric orbit, and used aerobraking techniques to adjust its orbit to a lower, semi-circular orbit for data collection, a process which lasted from March to November, 2006. Since, it is conducting its science mission, which is planned to last from November 2006 to November 2008.

During MRO's science mission, the spacecraft does studies of Mars from orbit, including high-resolution measurements and images with a resolution of 20 to 30 cm. After that time, it should possibly serve as communications relay for later Mars landers until about December 2010, or up to an estimated 5 years longer, if needed.

MRO Patch

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter homepage (JPL)
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (NSSDC)
Nasa's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission page
Mars 2003 and 2005 page (NSSDC)
Mars 2005 Mission Architecture (JPL)
2005 and Beyond (JPL)

Hartmut Frommert [contact]

Last Modification: June 2, 2008