The Mars Odyssey was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL and reached Mars six months later. The mission’s objectives included mapping the surface of the planet and the distribution of chemicals and minerals. These maps lead scientists to discover water ice in the polar regions buried beneath the surface. Mars Odyssey’s main mission was extended…
The Mars Odyssey was launched from Cape Canaveral, FL and reached Mars six months later. The mission’s objectives included mapping the surface of the planet and the distribution of chemicals and minerals. These maps lead scientists to discover water ice in the polar regions buried beneath the surface. Mars Odyssey’s main mission was extended and currently provides a communication relay capability from the rovers on Mars to the Deep Space Network (DSN) on Earth. This relay capability was built into the Mars Odyssey as a backup, but has proven extremely successful and would be put to good use for the future Mars missions.