Modern Exploration Mars Odyssey

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Modern ExplorationMars Odyssey

• NASAs theme for Mars exploration, Follow the
  Water, began with the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission
• Odyssey, and every mission since, has addressed
  the Mars programs four goals
• Determine whether life ever arose on Mars
• Characterize the climate of Mars
• Characterize the geology of Mars
• Prepare for human exploration

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Modern ExplorationMars Odyssey

• Objectives
• Determine the abundance of hydrogen, most likely
  in the form of water ice, in the shallow
  subsurface
• Globally map the elements that make up the
  surface
• Acquire high-resolution thermal infrared images
  of surface minerals
• Provide information about the structure of the
  Martian surface
• Record the radiation environment in low Mars
  orbit as it relates to radiation-related risk to
  human exploration

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Modern ExplorationOdyssey

• Launched April 7, 2001 arrived October 24, 2001
• 3 instruments
• Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
  mineralogy
• Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) elemental
  composition
• Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE)

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Modern ExplorationOdyssey

• Launched April 7, 2001 arrived October 24, 2001
• 3 instruments
• Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
  mineralogy
• Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) elemental
  composition
• Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE)

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Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Credit NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
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Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Credit NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
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Modern ExplorationOdyssey
Credit NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
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Modern ExplorationOdyssey

• Notable results from Odyssey
• Evidence for vast amounts of subsurface water ice
  at both polar regions
• Can you see it?

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Modern ExplorationOdyssey