Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
NASA space probe in orbit of Mars
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is a NASA spacecraft. It launched on August 12, 2005 from Cape Canaveral, Florida. It arrived at Mars on March 10, 2006. It went into orbit around Mars, and has been studying the planet since then. The main area of study is looking for water on Mars, under the surface of Mars, and in the atmosphere of Mars. To do this, it has the largest telescope ever sent to another planet. The orbiter also works as a communications satellite. Its powerful antennas send and receive messages between NASA on Earth, and rovers on the surface of Mars.[1]
 Artist's impression of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. | |
| Mission type | Mars orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA / JPL |
| COSPAR ID | 2005-029A |
| SATCAT no. | 28788 |
| Website | marsprogram nasa |
| Mission duration | Primary mission: 2 years Elapsed: 19 years, 4 months and 10 days from launch 18 years, 9 months and 12 days (6678 sols) at Mars |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin / University of Arizona / APL / ASI / Malin Space Science Systems |
| Launch mass | 2,180 kg (4,810 lb) |
| Dry mass | 1,031 kg (2,273 lb) |
| Payload mass | 139 kg (306 lb) |
| Power | 2,000.0 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | August 12, 2005, 11:43:00 UTC |
| Rocket | Atlas V 401 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-41 |
| Contractor | ILS |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Areocentric |
| Regime | Sun-synchronous |
| Inclination | 93 degrees |
| Mars orbiter | |
| Orbital insertion | March 10, 2006, 21:24:00 UTC MSD 46990 12:48 AMT 20 Dhanus 211 Darian |
 Official insignia of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. | |
References
change- ↑ "Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter". NASA. Retrieved 4 September 2013.
