Posted on 10/23/2006 11:35:44 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
NASA's newest Mars spacecraft -- carrying the APL-built Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars -- is already revealing new clues about both recent and ancient environments on the red planet.
Scientists hope the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will answer questions about the history and distribution of Mars' water by combining data from the spacecraft's high-resolution camera, imaging spectrometer, context camera, ground-penetrating radar, atmospheric sounder, global color camera, radio and accelerometers.
Between Sept. 29 and Oct. 6, the first week of observations from low orbit, the instruments provided a good test of their capabilities by viewing dozens of sites that reflect different episodes in Mars' history. The orbiter will begin its primary science mission phase in early November, when Mars re-emerges from passing nearly behind the sun.
(Excerpt) Read more at jhu.edu ...
related, older topic:
Mars mission nears critical phase
BBC | Mar 9, 2006 | Rebecca Morelle
Posted on 03/10/2006 3:22:59 PM EST by djf
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1594062/posts
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