2001 Mars Odyssey

Status: Under Development

Launch Date: April 7, 2001

Mission Summary: Scheduled to arrive at Mars on October 20, 2001, Mars Surveyor 2001 will use the aerobraking maneuver to achieve a 2-hour science orbit. Surveyor was originally scheduled to have a lander, but due to restructuring of the faltering Mars Exploration Program, only an orbiter will be included in the mission. Surveyor will map mineralogy and morphology, global elemental composition of the surface, and it will determine the abundance of hydrogen in the shallow subsurface of the Red Planet. Also, Surveyor will monitor the aspects of near-space radiation environment in order to determine the radition risk to human explorers.

Back to Space Program Metanode

The 2001 Mars Odyssey probe is part of NASA's new Mars Exploration Program. On
arrival, the probe's primary mission takes place from January 2002 to July 2004.
During and after its mission the probe, will support the other probes and rovers in
the Mars program (esp. Mars Express and the 2003 Mars Exploration Rovers).

---

Flight Data

Launch date: April 7, 2001
Launch site: SLC-17A, Cape Canaveral, FL
Arrival: October 24, 2001

Mission Goals

1. Determine if there was life on Mars
2. Map the climate on Mars
3. Map the geology on Mars
4. Analyze the radiation on Mars

Technical Data

Computer:

• processor: RAD6000, a special version of the PowerPC
• memory: 128 MB RAM, 3 MB non-volatile RAM

Electrical Power:

The probe is mainly powered by its solar cells. Power is stored in
a 16 amp/hr nickel hydrogen battery.

Instruments:

• THEMIS - Thermal Emission Imaging System
  Weight: 24.7 lb. Measurements: 21.5 x 14.6 x 11.3 inches
  
• GRS - Gamma-Ray Spectrometer
  Weight: 67 lb. Measurements: 18.4 x 21.0 x 23.8 inches
  
• MARIE - Mars Radiation Environment Experiment
  Weight: 7.3 lb. Measurements: 11.6 x 9.1 x 4.3 inches.
  

Sources:
- Mars Exploration Program Website (http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov)
- Spaceflight Now (http://spaceflightnow.com/mars/odyssey/)

---