The Mars Odyssey spacecraft took its first picture of Mars Tuesday, a "thermal infrared" picture that shows differences in heat on the Red Planet
The Mars Odyssey spacecraft took its first photograph of Mars Tuesday, a "thermal infrared" picture that shows differences in heat on the Red Planet.
The image is expected be released later this week after it has been processed, according to a NASA press release. No firm release date was set.
The image, taken at about 8 a.m. ET Tuesday, will not likely be as impressive as similar infrared mapping already done by the Mars Global Surveyor, currently orbiting the Red Planet. Odyssey is not yet in its final orbit, and the Tuesday snapshot was made as part of an effort to calibrate the thermal emission imaging system to make sure it is working properly.
More useful science images, both in the infrared wavelength as well as visible light, will be beamed back to Earth starting early February, mission managers say. Ultimately, Odyssey's thermal infrared imager will detect temperature differences as little as 1 degree Fahrenheit -- possibly subtle enough to spot underground pools of water, if they exist.
Water near the surface of Mars would fuel hopes for microbial life, as well as provide a focus for future human missions to the planet. Water could be used for human consumption and to create rocket fuel for a return trip, saving precious weight on any possible future crewed Mars missions.
Meanwhile, Odyssey continues to surf through the Martian atmosphere periodically, using its large solar panels like brakes. The process, called aerobraking, is proceeding as planned, flight controllers said Tuesday, exactly one week after Odyssey first went into orbit.
Odyssey's initial orbit is egg-shaped and carries the craft as much as 17,000 miles away from Mars. On close approach, however, it zooms to nearly 80 miles above the Red Planet. On these veritable skims above the surface, the relatively thin atmosphere of Mars drags the spacecraft into what will eventually, after some three months, become a circular orbit roughly 250 miles overhead.
Scientist said two neutron detectors aboard the craft were turned on and appear to be functioning well. Neutrons were successfully measured during each close pass by the planet, they said.
The High Energy Neutron Detector (HEND) was designed and built by the Space Research Institute in Russia under a joint agreement between NASA and the Russian Aviation and Space Agency. A neutron spectrometer aboard the spacecraft was built by the Los Alamos National Laboratory. Both devices will complement Odyssey's cameras in the effort to search for near-surface water and possible pockets of hot lava.
A similar instrument aboard NASAs Lunar Prospector provided compelling evidence for water ice at the Moons poles.
Odyssey's neutron-measuring instruments have been turned off, now that they've been tested.
Once in final orbit, Odyssey will begin a comprehensive mapping of the Martian surface, as well as its radiation environment. The visible-light and infrared images to be collected will complement and improve upon pictures and other data gathered by other robotic Mars explorers, including the currently orbiting Mars Global Surveyor.
Odyssey will also try to determine how deadly the radiation on Mars is.
SPECIAL REPORT: Full Coverage of the Odyssey Mission to Mars
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