NEXT SPACEFLIGHT

Status

Success

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Launch Time
Fri Aug 12, 2005 11:43 UTC

Rocket

Atlas V 401
Image Credit: ULA
ILS
Status: Retired
Price: $109.0 million
Liftoff Thrust: 3,826 kN
Payload to LEO: 9,797 kg
Payload to GTO: 4,750 kg
Stages: 2
Strap-ons: 0
Rocket Height: 58.3 m
Fairing Diameter: 4.2 m
Fairing Height: 13.8 m

Mission Details

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

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.

Payloads: 1
Total Mass: 2,180.0 kg
Heliocentric Orbit

Location

SLC-41, Cape Canaveral SFS, Florida, USA

Stats

2005

32nd orbital launch attempt

Atlas V

6th mission
2nd mission of 2005
6th successful mission