Mars Cameras Debut As NASA Craft Adjusts Orbit (JPL) {graphics}

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Press Releases

April 13, 2006

Mars Cameras Debut As NASA Craft Adjusts Orbit

Researchers today released the first Mars images from two of the three science
cameras on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Images taken by the orbiter's Context Camera and Mars Color Imager during the
first tests of those instruments at Mars confirm the performance capability of the
cameras. The test images were taken from nearly 10 times as far from the planet
as the spacecraft will be once it finishes reshaping its orbit. Test images from the
third camera of the science payload were released previously.

"The test images show that both cameras will meet or exceed their performance
requirements once they're in the low-altitude science orbit. We're looking forward
to that time with great anticipation," said Dr. Michael Malin of Malin Space Science
Systems, San Diego. Malin is team leader for the context camera and principal
investigator for the Mars Color Imager.

The cameras took the test images two weeks after the orbiter's March 10 arrival at
Mars and before the start of "aerobraking," a process of reshaping the orbit by
using controlled contact with Mars' atmosphere. This week, the spacecraft is
dipping into Mars' upper atmosphere as it approaches the altitude range that it will
use for shrinking its orbit gradually over the next six months.




more: http://marsprogram.jpl.nasa.gov/mro/newsroom/pressreleases/20060413a.html

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