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Collection:
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NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Roars Away
Title
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Roars Away
Title
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Original Caption Released with Image:
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With the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, an Atlas V launch vehicle, 19 stories tall, with a two-ton Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) on top, roars away from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:43 a.m. EDT. All systems performed nominally for NASA's first launch of an Atlas V on an interplanetary mission. MRO established radio contact with controllers 61 minutes after launch and within four minutes of separation from the upper stage. Initial contact came through an antenna at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Uchinoura Space Center in southern Japan. Mars is 72 million miles from Earth today, but the spacecraft will travel more than four times that distance on its outbound-arc trajectory to intercept the red planet on March 10, 2006. The orbiter carries six scientific instruments for examining the surface, atmosphere and subsurface of Mars in unprecedented detail from low orbit. NASA expects to get several times more data about Mars from MRO than from all previous Martian missions combined. Researchers will use the instruments to learn more about the history and distribution of Mars' water. That information will improve understanding of planetary climate change and will help guide the quest to answer whether Mars ever supported life. The orbiter will also evaluate potential landing sites for future missions.
Original_Caption_Rel eased_with_Image
With the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop, an Atlas V launch vehicle, 19 stories tall, with a two-ton Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) on top, roars away from Launch Complex 41 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 7:43 a.m. EDT. All systems performed nominally for NASA's first launch of an Atlas V on an interplanetary mission. MRO established radio contact with controllers 61 minutes after launch and within four minutes of separation from the upper stage. Initial contact came through an antenna at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's Uchinoura Space Center in southern Japan. Mars is 72 million miles from Earth today, but the spacecraft will travel more than four times that distance on its outbound-arc trajectory to intercept the red planet on March 10, 2006. The orbiter carries six scientific instruments for examining the surface, atmosphere and subsurface of Mars in unprecedented detail from low orbit. NASA expects to get several times more data about Mars from MRO than from all previous Martian missions combined. Researchers will use the instruments to learn more about the history and distribution of Mars' water. That information will improve understanding of planetary climate change and will help guide the quest to answer whether Mars ever supported life. The orbiter will also evaluate potential landing sites for future missions.
Original Caption Released with Image
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Image Credit:
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NASA/JPL/KSC/Lockhee d Martin Space Systems
Image_Credit
NASA/JPL/KSC/Lockhee d Martin Space Systems
Image Credit
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Produced By:
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Kennedy Space Center
Produced_By
Kennedy Space Center
Produced By
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Mission:
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Mission
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Mission
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Spacecraft:
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Spacecraft
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
Spacecraft
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Product Size:
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2042 samples x 3000 lines
Product_Size
2042 samples x 3000 lines
Product Size
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facet_what:
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Atlas
facet_what
Atlas
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Earth
facet_what
Earth
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars
facet_what
Mars
facet_what
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facet_what:
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MRO
facet_what
MRO
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
facet_what
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft
facet_what
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Mars
facet_where
Mars
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Japan
facet_where
Japan
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Atlantic Ocean
facet_where
Atlantic Ocean
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
facet_where
Kennedy Space Center (KSC)
facet_where
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facet_when:
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March 10, 2006
facet_when
March 10, 2006
facet_when
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facet_when_year:
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2006
facet_when_year
2006
facet_when_year
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Image #:
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PIA04142
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UID:
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SPD-PHOTJ-PIA04142
UID
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA04142
UID
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orignial url:
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orignial_url
orignial url
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