On This Day In Space: Aug. 12, 2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter launches to Red Planet

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On Aug. 12, 2005, NASA launched its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission.

On Aug. 12, 2005, NASA launched its Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) mission.

Latest Photos from NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter 

Some of the best cameras ever launched into space are on MRO, and the spacecraft has taken some seriously amazing photos of Mars. 

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter lifts off from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Aug. 12, 2005. (Image credit: NASA)
Related stories:

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Blasts Off for Red Planet 

Robot Life on Mars! Meet the Machines Exploring the Red Planet Today 

Red Planet Express: 10 Ways Robots Move on Mars  

The Boldest Mars Missions in History 

The High-Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, or HiRISE camera, takes high-resolution photos of the Martian surface and has helped NASA scout the Red Planet for suitable landing sites for rovers like Curiosity. It also serves as a data relay station for other spacecraft on Mars that needed to beam data back to Earth.

MRO has also studied water and ice on Mars, and its cameras have revealed some pretty weird landscapes. 

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Hanneke Weitering
Hanneke Weitering

Hanneke Weitering is an editor at Space.com with 10 years of experience in science journalism. She has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. After studying physics at the University of Tennessee in her hometown of Knoxville, she earned her graduate degree in Science, Health and Environmental Reporting (SHERP) from New York University. Hanneke joined the Space.com team in 2016 as a staff writer and producer, covering topics including spaceflight and astronomy. She currently lives in Seattle, home of the Space Needle, with her cat and two snakes. In her spare time, Hanneke enjoys exploring the Rocky Mountains, basking in nature and looking for dark skies to gaze at the cosmos. 
5 Comments Comment from the forums
  • The Exoplanets Channel
    Very interesting
    Reply
  • Arc Light
    Just so you know, the X-15 took off from Edwards AFB under the wing of a B-52 & was airdropped over Delamar Dry Lake, Nevada. The flight to the altitude record wasn't planned, but the rocket engine burned for two seconds longer than expected. The test flight was scheduled to peak at 280,000', but actually reached 314, 750' due to the extra rocket burn time.
    Reply
  • Fourth Root
    Misleading wording. Bob White did not set the world altitude record on July 17th, 1962. Four Astronauts and two cosmonauts had flown higher prior to his flight. One could say it was the highest manned flight of a winged craft. But that's not the wording that was used.
    Reply
  • DrRaviSharma
    On this date in 1969, I was part of NASA Apollo Team

    Contributed to Experiments in orbit and on Surface of Moon (ALSEP) etc.also trained astronauts

    Studied containation on and ouside Spacecraft.

    The Moon gave me employment to work for 5 Years on exciting Human Space flight Programs Skylab, Planning of Space Station and Space Shuttle

    See My picture taken with Buzz Aldrin in 2009
    https://www.space.com/india-moon-landing-not-a-failure.html
    I received Apollo Achievement Award from NASA dated July 20, 1969.

    Thanks Hanneke Weitering for today's Historic post

    Ravi
    Dr. Ravi Sharma
    Reply
  • Mergatroid
    "Allegedly, the moon turns green because of its close proximity to Uranus"

    I'm sorry about that. I hear they have been investigating x-rays from the same source. I had no idea. I'll get a doctor to check into it.

    Sorry everyone.

    Sorry...
    Reply