Science

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter continually provides new information in unprecedented detail about the surface, subsurface, and atmosphere of Mars.

Overview
Objectives
Science Highlights
Science Instruments

Overview

Among other ongoing  achievements, data collected by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter continues to help Mars scientists and engineers characterize potential landing sites for other missions. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is part of a series of expeditions to the red planet that help meet the Mars Exploration Program’s four science goals.

The Mars 2020 descent stage holding NASA’s Perseverance rover can be seen falling through the Martian atmosphere by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRise camera, its parachute trailing behind, in this image taken on 18 February 2021. The ancient river delta, which is the target of the Perseverance mission, can be seen entering Jezero Crater from the left.
The Mars 2020 descent stage holding NASA’s Perseverance rover can be seen falling through the Martian atmosphere by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter’s HiRise camera, its parachute trailing behind, in this image taken on 18 February 2021. The ancient river delta, which is the target of the Perseverance mission, can be seen entering Jezero Crater from the left.
NASA/JPL/UArizona

Key Milestones

Mars Orbit Insertion
March 12, 2006
Capturing the spacecraft into orbit around Mars
Aerobraking
March 2006 - Nov. 2006
Orbiter slows down in the martian atmosphere and is placed into a near polar, low altitude, circular orbit for science-data collecting; characterized upper atmospheric density
Primary Science Phase
Nov. 2006 - Nov. 2008
Higher resolution observations of the atmosphere, surface and subsurface of Mars; extended coverage to identify targets of interest; landing site and relay support for Phoenix Mars Scout
Extended Science Phase
Nov. 2008 - Dec. 2010
High-resolution targeted imaging of surface composition and morphology revealing potentially habitable zones; internal and external polar cap structure; subsurface ice; Mars Science Laboratory landing site support
Extended Mission 1
Dec. 2010 - Sep. 2012
Characterizing seasonal processes and their interannual variability; searching for surface changes; diversity of Mars further revealed; critical event coverage of Mars Science Laboratory landing
Extended Mission 2
Oct. 2012 - Oct. 2014 (in progress)
Targeting new locales of interest, following up on earlier discoveries, and characterizing interannual variability in atmospheric and surface processes; relay support for Mars Science Lab and Mars Exploration Rovers

Objectives

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has the following science objectives:

1. Characterize the present climate of Mars and its physical mechanisms of seasonal and interannual climate change

2. Determine the nature of complex layered terrain on Mars and identify water-related landforms

3. Search for sites showing evidence of aqueous and/or hydrothermal activity

4. Identify and characterize sites with the highest potential for landed science and sample return by future Mars missions

5. Return scientific data from Mars landed craft during a relay phase

Science Highlights

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has gathered and beamed back to Earth unprecedented details about the Red Planet's surface, subsurface, and atmosphere. Using this treasure trove of high-quality data, scientists have confirmed some previously held scientific theories about Mars, and turned others upside down.

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This image was taken in the middle of winter in Mars’ Southern Hemisphere, and shows a crater near 37 degrees south latitude. The south-facing slope has patchy bright frost, blue in enhanced color.
This image was taken in the middle of winter in Mars’ Southern Hemisphere, and shows a crater near 37 degrees south latitude. The south-facing slope has patchy bright frost, blue in enhanced color.
NASA/JPL/UArizona

Science Instruments

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft carries six instruments, three engineering instruments, and two more science-facility experiments, for acquiring information about Martian geology, atmosphere, environmental conditions, and potential biosignatures.

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Scientists working on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
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