MRO : Taking Mars Exploration to the Next Level

Details MRO : Taking Mars Exploration to the Next Level MRO : Taking Mars Exploration to the Next Level

Sep 2006

adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2006dps....38.7003z&link_type=abstract

American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #38, #70.03; Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, Vol. 38, p.624

Astronomy and Astrophysics

Astronomy

Scientific paper

Launched August 12, 2005, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) entered Mars orbit on March 10, 2006 and then began its aerobraking phase. That phase was successfully completed one month ago. The orbiter is now safely in the low-altitude, near-polar, mid-afternoon orbit from which MRO will conduct a primary science campaign for more than a Mars year, starting this November. During September, the SHARAD radar antenna was deployed, the CRISM imaging spectrometer telescope cover was opened, and all instruments were operated as a part of the final checkout of functions needed to start the Primary Science Phase. This checkout included exercising the onboard targeting software and the spacecraft articulations (solar array and high gain antenna) needed to support routine science observations after the current solar conjunction. The MRO spacecraft carries a sophisticated suite of instruments whose higher spatial resolutions, extended coverage at current best resolutions, improved signal-to-noise, and complementary exploitation of different parts of the electromagnetic spectrum will provide a wealth of new detail to address many questions of how the Martian climate (surface and atmosphere) have changed over time. This talk will give an overview of the instrument capabilities and objectives of the MRO science mission, with emphasis on activities planned for the next few months, as MRO begins its ambitious observational program. Generally, this program combines daily global monitoring of the present climate, regional survey and targeted observations of surface morphology, stratigraphy and composition, and radar probing of the shallow subsurface. Early in its science phase, MRO will also observe candidate landing sites for Phoenix and the Mars Science Laboratory.

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