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Launch Success
Liftoff Time (GMT)
11:43:00
Friday August 12, 2005
Watch Replay
Official Livestream
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a multipurpose spacecraft designed to conduct reconnaissance and exploration of Mars from orbit. Mission objectives include observing the climate of Mars, investigating geologic forces, providing reconnaissance of future landing sites, and relaying data from surface missions back to Earth. To support these objectives, the MRO carries different scientific instruments, including three cameras, two spectrometers, and a radar. As of January 23, 2023, the MRO has returned over 445 terabits of data, helped choose safe landing sites for NASA's Mars landers, and discovered ice and possible flowing salty water on the surface of Mars.
Heliocentric Orbit
1 Payload
2,180 kilograms
Manufacturer
ULAPrice
$109.00 million
Rocket
Diameter: 3.81m
Height: 58.3m
Payload to Orbit
LEO: 9,797 kg
GTO: 4,750 kg
Liftoff Thrust
3,826 Kilonewtons
Fairing
Diameter: 4.2m
Height: 13.8m
Stages
2
6th
Mission
2nd
Mission of 2005
32nd
Orbital launch attempt