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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a NASA spacecraft launched in 2005 that has been orbiting Mars since 2006. It conducts high-resolution imaging and analysis of the planet’s surface, subsurface, and atmosphere, searching for signs of past water and identifying potential landing sites for future missions.

Source: science.nasa.gov

APODs including "Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter"

Curiosity on the Move

10/09/2012

Curiosity on the Move
Image Credit: NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day

Curiosity is on the move across Mars -- but where is it going? The car-sized rover's path after 29 Martian days on the surface is shown on the above map. Curiosity is still almost 300 meters from its first major destination, though, a meeting of different types of terrain called Glenelg and visible on the image right. It may take Curiosity two months or so to get to Glenelg as it stops to inspect interesting rocks or landscape features along the way. The above image was taken about one week ago from high up by the HiRise camera onboard the robotic Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. Help Evaluate APOD: How did you first hear about APOD?