After a successful liftoff aboard NASA's first Atlas V rocket.
the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. or MRO. began its journey to Mars.
Launched the morning of August 12. 2005. from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida.
NASA's MRO spent several months traveling to the red planet before reaching its science orbit.
Its primary goal: search for evidence that water persisted on Mars for a long period of time.
MRO carries the most powerful camera ever flown on a planetary exploration mission.
providing an unprecedented detailed view of the geology and structure of Mars.
It can also help identify obstacles that could jeopardize the safety of future landers and rovers.
MRO also serves as the first installment of an 'interplanetary Internet.'
the first link in a communications bridge back to Earth. a crucial service for future spacecraft.
Since 2006. MRO has met the mission's science goals and returned more data than all other Mars missions combined.
While it may have completed its primary science phase of operations in 2008. MRO continues to contribute.
observing for science and for support of future missions that will land on Mars.