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Mars Climate Sounder, one of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's six science instruments, is performing a detailed, systematic study of Mars' weather and climate. Mars Climate Sounder is the first science investigation at Mars that is capable of performing a "4-dimensional" study (three spatial dimensions and time) of the key properties of Mars' atmosphere. Since Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter began its science operations in November 2006, Mars Climate Sounder has been acquiring vertical profiles of the temperature, pressure, dust, and clouds of the lower 80 kilometers (50 miles) of Mars' atmosphere.

An intermittent error that first appeared in December 2006 had caused normal operations of the instrument to be suspended. The error has been partially mitigated since then; currently, MCS is scanning within a limited range of 122 degrees in elevation, which allows scientists to fully calibrate the instrument, track the limb around the orbit, and view the planet slightly below the limb, thereby restoring the full atmospheric science observations and possibly allowing for some of the surface science to be recovered.

Just after Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter arrived at Mars, Mars Climate Sounder captured a unique portrait of the spacecraft's instrument deck and many of its other science instruments.

The Planetary Society is an education outreach partner on Mars Climate Sounder and is proud to be a part of this next phase of Mars exploration.

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