The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission IAC-05-A.3.3

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) was launched on August 12,2005 by an Atlas V 401 expendable launch vehicle from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Florida, USA. The spacecraft supports a payload to conduct remote sensing science observations, identify and characterize sites for future landers, and provide critical telecomhavigation relay capability for follow-on missions. The mission is designed to provide global, regional survey, and targeted observations from a low 255km by 320km Mars orbit with a 3:OO 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. While in this science phase, the orbiter will provide telecommunications support for Phoenix spacecraft launched to Mars in the 2007. After the primary science phase is complete, the orbiter will enter into its formal relay mode and support the Mars Science Laboratory which will be launched in the 2009 opportunity. The primary mission ends on December 31,2010, approximately 5.5 years after launc