WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000
Intro music.

00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:14.000
In reward for a job well done, the Mars Odyssey spacecraft's mission is extended by an additional two years.

00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:23.000
Launched in April of 2001, Odyssey's original mission was to map portions of Mars and analyze the planet's chemical composition.

00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:31.000
Odyssey is also NASA's first spacecraft ever sent to Mars in preparation for human visitors.

00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:36.000
Scientists wanted to measure the planet's radiation levels before astronauts,

00:00:36.000 --> 00:00:42.000
who'd be prone to exposure to solar flares and cosmic rays, set foot on Martian soil.

00:00:42.000 --> 00:00:50.000
When the Spirit and Opportunity rovers began roving the Mars surface, Odyssey became their primary communications link to Earth.

00:00:50.000 --> 00:01:00.000
From its orbit above the planet, Odyssey has relayed back to scientists more than 85% of the images and data gathered by rovers.

00:01:00.000 --> 00:01:05.000
One of Odyssey's new objectives is to monitor the planet for climatic change.

00:01:05.000 --> 00:01:12.000
Over its three years in operation, the spacecraft has observed every season as they pass on Mars.

00:01:12.000 --> 00:01:20.000
Aware of Mars' seasonal variety, scientists want to watch for environmental changes as they span from year to year.

00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:35.000
In addition to its new scientific duties, Odyssey is also going to scout out landing sites for NASA's Phoenix mission, due to land in 2008.

00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:40.000