The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) might look like this as it orbits Mars.
Click on image for full size
Image courtesy NASA/JPL-Caltech.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is the name of a robot spacecraft. MRO is orbiting Mars right now. MRO will start taking pictures of Mars and gathering data in November 2006. It will keep taking pictures and gathering data for two years after that. MRO won't land on Mars. It will study Mars from orbit.
MRO is a big spacecraft. It has a really good camera on it. The camera will be able to spot things on the surface of Mars that are about as small as a dinner plate.
MRO will also study the atmosphere of Mars. The spacecraft has an instrument called a spectrometer. The spectrometer will make a map of the minerals on the surface of Mars. MRO also has radar. It will use the radar to search for ice underground on Mars.
MRO will make better maps of Mars. It will help scientists decide where future missions to Mars should go. It might even help us decide where the first people who go to Mars should land!
You might also be interested in:
What types of instructional experiences help K-8 students learn science with understanding? What do science educators teachers, teacher leaders, science specialists, professional development staff, curriculum designers, school administrators need to know to create and support such experiences?
...more The atmosphere of Mars is much thinner than that of Earth, with a surface pressure averaging 1/100th that at the surface of the Earth. Surface temperatures range from -113oC at the winter pole to 0oC
...moreThe surface of Mars can be broken into two parts, the highlands and lowlands. The highlands are in the southern hemisphere (the bottom of the picture). The lowlands are in the northern hemisphere of Mars
...moreMars doesn't seem to have very much water. If Mars had lots of water life could survive there. There seems to be *some* water because clouds, fog, and icy polar caps are seen on Mars today. There are also
...moreMars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is the name of a robot spacecraft. MRO is orbiting Mars right now. MRO will start taking pictures of Mars and gathering data in November 2006. It will keep taking pictures
...moreThe Advanced Composition Explorer (ACE) was launched on August 25, 1997. How old were you when ACE was launched?
...more To learn more about a specific mission from the Apollo program, the most successful and expensive space program in human history, select one of the links below: Apollo 1 Apollo 7 Apollo 8 Apollo 9 Apollo
...moreThe Apollo space program, scheduled for its first launch on Feb. 21, 1967, started in tragedy. On Jan. 27, 1967, astronauts Gus Grissom, Ed White, and Roger Chaffee were practicing for launch when fire
...more