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2001 Mars Odyssey is an unmanned spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars. Its mission is to use spectrometers and imager s to hunt for evidence of past or present water and volcanic activity on Mars. It is hoped that the data Odyssey obtains will help answer the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars. It also acts as a relay for communications between the Mars Explorations Rovers and Earth.Odyssey was launched April 7, 2001 on a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida, and reached Mars on October 24, 2001, 0230 Universal Time (October 23, 7:30 pm PDT/ 10:30 EDT). The spacecraft's main engine fired to brake the spacecraft's speed and allowed it to be captured into orbit around Mars. Odyssey used a technique called " aerobraking" that gradually brought the spacecraft closer to Mars with each orbit. By using the atmosphere of Mars to slow down the spacecraft in its orbit rather than firing its engine or thrusters, Odyssey was able to save more than 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of propellant.
Aerobraking ended in January, and began its science mapping mission on February 19February 19 is the 50th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. There are 315 days remaining, 316 in leap years. Events 607 Boniface III becomes Pope. 1674 England and the Netherlands sign the Peace of Westminster. A provision of the agreement transfer, 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom. The three primary instruments Odyssey uses are the Thermal Emission Imaging SystemThe Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) is a camera that images Mars in the visible and infrared parts of the spectrum in order to determine the distribution of minerals on the surface of Mars. It is used to determine the distribution of minerals on (THEMIS), Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), and Mars Radiation Environment ExperimentThe Martian Radiation Experiment or MARIE was designed to measure the radiation environment of Mars using an energetic particle spectrometer. It was led by NASA's Johnson Space Center and the science investigation was designed to characterize aspects of t (MARIE). It also carries a neutronNeutron Classification Subatomic particle Fermion Hadron Baryon Nucleon Neutron Properties Mass: 940 MeV/ c 2 Electric Charge: 0 C Spin: 1/2 In physics, the neutron is a subatomic particle with no net electric charge and a mass of 940 MeV/ c 2 ( kg; very spectrometer. On May 28May 28 is the 148th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (149th in leap years). There are 217 days remaining. Events 585 BC A solar eclipse occurred, as predicted by Thales, while Alyattes is battling Cyaxares, leading to a truce. This is one of the, 20022002 is a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). 2002 was the first palindromic year since 1991 and the last until 2112. 2002 was also designated: International Year of Ecotourism and Mountains National Science Year in the United Kingdom, NASAThe National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA (established 1958) is the government agency responsible for the United States of America's space program and long-term general aerospace research. A civilian organization, it conducts (or oversees) re reported that Odyssey's GRS had detected large amounts of hydrogen, a sign that there must be ice lying within a meter of the planet's surface.
Mars Odyssey was originally named the Mars Surveyor 2001 Orbiter and was intended to have a companion spacecraft known as Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander. The lander mission was canceled in May 2000 following the failures of Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander in late 1999. Subsequently, the name 2001 Mars Odyssey was selected for the orbiter as a specific tribute to the vision of space exploration shown in works by Arthur C. Clarke, including .
The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin. The expected cost for the entire mission is US$297 million.
