WEBVTT

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Intro music.

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This July will mark the two-year anniversary of the launch of the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

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Since Mars passes close to Earth every 26 months, that means it's almost time for NASA to launch a new mission to the Red Planet --

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the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

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Set to launch in August, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will build on the discoveries and advances of recent successful Mars missions.

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The orbiter will call upon its suite of innovative scientific instruments to study the atmosphere, terrain and even what lies below the planet's surface.

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The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will snap photos of selected targets on Mars' rough surface in more detail than any previous orbiter,

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revealing features as small as a coffee table.

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The mission will allow scientists on Earth to study martian terrain too dangerous to visit.

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It will also help determine which future landing sites might yield the most science.

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This information will become increasingly important in years to come, as NASA plans missions to the Moon, Mars and beyond

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as part of the Vision for Space Exploration.