Status of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission

Paper number

IAC-06-A3.3.01

Author

Mr. James Graf, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States

Year

2006

Abstract

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), launched in August 2005 by an Atlas V 401 expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, USA, will deliver to Mars orbit a payload to conduct remote sensing science observations, identify and characterize sites for future landers, and provide critical telecom/navigation relay capability for follow-on missions. The mission will build upon the data returned from the ongoing orbiters (two USA and one ESA) to further our understanding of the red planet. 
The mission is designed to provide global, regional survey, and targeted observations from a low 255km by 320km Mars orbit with a 3:00 P.M. local mean solar time (ascending node).  During the one Martian year (687 Earth days) primary science phase, the orbiter will acquire visual and near-infrared high-resolution images of the planet’s surface, monitor atmospheric weather and climate, and search the upper crust for evidence of water.  After this science phase is completed, the orbiter will provide telecommunications support for spacecraft launched to Mars in the 2007 and 2009 opportunities.  The primary mission ends on December 31, 2010, approximately 5.5 years after launch. 

In pursuit of its science objectives, the MRO mission will: characterize Mars’ seasonal cycles and diurnal variations of water, dust, and carbon dioxide; characterize Mars’ global atmospheric structure, transport and surface changes; search sites for evidence of aqueous and/or hydrothermal activity; observe and characterize the detailed stratigraphy, geologic structure, and composition of Mars surface features; probe the near-surface Martian crust to detect subsurface structure, including layering and potential reservoirs of water and/or water ice; characterize the Martian gravity field in greater detail relative to previous Mars missions to improve knowledge of the Martian crust, lithosphere, and potentially atmospheric mass variation; identify and characterize numerous globally distributed landing sites with a high potential for scientific discovery by future missions.

The paper will describe the present status of the mission, including the launch, cruise operations and calibrations. It will cover ground operations and plans for science data processing. It will describe the various mission phases including cruise, Mars approach/orbit insertion, aerobraking, science (mapping), and the relay phase. 

Abstract document

IAC-06-A3.3.01.pdf

Manuscript document

IAC-06-A3.3.01.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).

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