In PDS3 Format













    MRO pic 1















    MRO pic 2


    Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter entered a martin orbit on 10 March 2006. Aerobraking was used over the next six months to lower the orbit to the 255 x 320 km science orbit (with periapsis over the south pole and apoapsis over the north pole) resulting in 12 sun-synchronous orbits per day. The instruments include a high resolution visible stereo imaging camera, a high special resolution visible/near-infrared spectrometer to study the surface composition. an infrared radiometer to study the atmosphere; a shallow subsurface sounding radar provided by the Italian Space Agency, a wide-angle camera and a narrow-angle camera. MRO was equipped with Ka-band communications and aerobraking and tracking data were generated to provide atmospheric and gravity information.

    Basic Mission Goals
    The science objectives of the mission are to: characterize the present climate of Mars and its physical mechanisms of seasonal and interannual climate change; determine the nature of complex layered terrain on Mars and identify water-related landforms; search for sites showing evidence of aqueous and/or hydrothermal activity; identify and characterize sites with the highest potential for landed science and sample return by future Mars missions; and return scientific data from Mars landed craft during a relay phase.

    For More Information see the following

    The Atmospheric data consist of