MRO Launch

[longbow]

the new mars recanisance orbiter launced yesterday
this new satellite to mars is going to be closers to the planet than any other one sent before. 250miles above the serface. and will beable to get pictures of rock formations as small as a kitchen table. and wil also have a radar to scan through the martian surface to look for other stuff like water, minerals, and fuel.
the MRO starts the mission in November of 06 but will get there in March06. that time period inbetween will be its "slowing down period" so it can get to its final distance above the planet.
souncs cool to me 😃

[pohopo]

the orbitor to set the stage for a possible manned mission (if they find water). the communication of this satelite with earth is ten times more power then what exists out there now.

[longbow]

yup i did forget to add that in.. it will also act as a router for the two rovers on the surface now so they can get commands to it faster 🙂

[Weedpacket]

The first piece of a Martian communications satellite network; future missions will be able to cut back on their communications gear because they will only need to connect with satellites like MRO, rather than have to call all the way back to Earth direct.

[dalecosp]

And what a booster it took to get all that fibre up there! Not to mention, keep it in place and protect it from solar radiation when the planets are opposite each other .... 😃