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Astronomy: Mars Odyssey

The Mars Odyssey spacecraft was launched on 7 April 2001 and reached our Red neighbour in October 2001. It needed a few months to tune its orbit and has been examining Mars in detail since February 2002.

The spacecraft carries three research systems:

a camera system made up of infrared and visible-light sensors;

a spectrometer suite with a gamma ray spectrometer, a neutron spectrometer and a high-energy neutron detector;

and a radiation environment detector.

Huge quantities of water

Less than a month after the science mapping campaign began, the team announced a major discovery. The gamma ray and neutron instruments detected copious hydrogen just under Mars' surface in the south polar region. Researchers interpret the hydrogen as frozen water and present in vast quantities.
Later Mars Odyssey also found water in the north polar region.

Other accomplishments

The spacecraft analyzed minerals and chemical elements of Mars. For instance infrared mapping showed that the mineral olivine is widespread. This indicated the environment has been quite dry, because water exposure alters olivine into other minerals.

The first experiment sent to Mars specifically in preparation for human missions, found that radiation levels around Mars, caused by solar flares and cosmic rays, are two to three times higher than around Earth.

Mars Odyssey's camera system obtained the most detailed complete global maps of Mars ever. Images are taken with a resolution of 100 meters (328 feet).

After one Martian year

The Mars Odyssey has completed its primary mission goals in one Martian year (687 Earth days) and can now measure the seasonal changes again, such as the comings and going of polar ice, clouds and dust storms. We can compare the climate with last (Martian) year.

Related subject

>> Mars

A sketch of the Mars Odyssey

This false color global map of energetic neutrons shows presumed concentrations of near surface water ice (blue shades). Ice was found as well at the poles as at lower latitudes. The melting of near surface ice could be responsible for the formation of martian gullies.

Long traces of melted water ice at the base of these mountains (martian gullies). This picture is about 16 kilometers high.
< JPG image 1188 X 800 pixels >

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