Posted by tourdemars to Mars Global Surveyor at September 5, 2000 12:00 PM

NASA's Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft currently orbiting the Red Planet carries the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter instrument. MOLA transmits infrared laser pulses towards Mars and measures the time of flight to determine the range of the spacecraft to the surface below. Scientists can then use the measurements to develop a precise topographic map of the terrain.