WEBVTT
Kind: captions
Language: en

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.750


00:00:00.750 --> 00:00:04.800
After a successful liftoff aboard NASA's first Atlas V rocket.


00:00:04.800 --> 00:00:09.210
the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. or MRO. began its journey to Mars.


00:00:09.210 --> 00:00:15.180
Launched the morning of August 12. 2005. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.


00:00:15.180 --> 00:00:21.030
NASA's MRO spent several months traveling to the red planet before reaching its science orbit.


00:00:21.030 --> 00:00:28.220
Its primary goal: search for evidence that water persisted on Mars for a long period of time.


00:00:28.220 --> 00:00:33.500
MRO carries the most powerful camera ever flown on a planetary exploration mission.


00:00:33.500 --> 00:00:39.160
providing an unprecedented detailed view of the geology and structure of Mars.


00:00:39.160 --> 00:00:46.250
It can also help identify obstacles that could jeopardize the safety of future landers and rovers.


00:00:46.250 --> 00:00:50.820
MRO also serves as the first installment of an 'interplanetary Internet.'


00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:56.730
the first link in a communications bridge back to Earth. a crucial service for future spacecraft.


00:00:56.730 --> 00:01:04.700
Since 2006. MRO has met the mission's science goals and returned more data than all other Mars missions combined.


00:01:04.700 --> 00:01:12.310
While it may have completed its primary science phase of operations in 2008. MRO continues to contribute.


00:01:12.310 --> 00:01:17.090
observing for science and for support of future missions that will land on Mars.


00:01:17.090 --> 00:01:18.010