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Year in Space Calendar
  

Space Topics: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Mission Facts

Mission Timeline

  • Pre-Launch:  2002 - Aug, 2005: Preparation for the mission, including assembly, testing, and delivery to Cape Canaveral
  • Launch: August 12, 2005
  • Cruise: August 2005 - March 2006
  • Approach: March 2006
  • Mars Orbit Insertion: March 10, 2006
  • Aerobraking: March 10, 2006 - September 11, 2006
  • Transitional Phase: September 11, 2006 - November 8, 2006
  • Science Operations: November 8, 2006 - November 2008
  • Communications Relay: November 2008 – December 2010
  • Primary mission end: December 31, 2010
    The orbiter may be able to continue providing relay services for as much as another 5 years beyond its planned end date.

Spacecraft

  • Spacecraft mass:
    • Total: 2,180 kilograms (4,806 pounds) at launch
    • Science payload: 139 kilograms (306 pounds)
    • Other dry weight: 892 kilograms (1,967 pounds)
    • Fuel: 1,149 kilograms (2,533 pounds)
  • Spacecraft description:
    • Body: 6.5 meters (21 feet) in height
    • Solar panels: 13.6 meters (45 feet) tip-to-tip fully extended, with about 20 meters (220 square feet) of solar cells
    • High-gain antenna: 10 meters (33 feet) diameter

Orbit

  • Nearly circular, nearly polar
  • Periapsis: 255 kilometers (158 miles) over the south pole
  • Apoapsis: 320 kilometers (about 200 miles)
  • Period: 112 minutes

Mission cost

  • Total cost: $720 million
  • Cost of spacecraft and science instruments: $450 million
  • Launch: $90 million
  • Mission operations: $180 million