Spacecraft transforms Mars knowledge

Posted by tourdemars to Mars Odyssey at March 17, 2003 12:00 PM

A new view of the geology of the Red Planet is emerging from data gathered by the Mars Odyssey (MO) spacecraft which has been observing the Red Planet for a year. The probe is providing a new understanding about the composition of Mars' surface rocks, geological history, radiation levels and potential landing sites for rovers. "In just one year, Mars Odyssey has fundamentally changed our understanding of the nature of the materials on and below the surface of Mars," says Jeffrey Plaut, Odyssey's project scientist.