Mars 2001 Odyssey Spacecraft | SpaceRef Image Gallery

One of the chief scientific goals that 2001 Mars Odyssey will focus on is mapping the chemicals and minerals that make up the Martian surface. As on Earth, the geology and elements that form the Martian planet chronicle its history. And while neither elements, the building blocks of minerals, nor minerals, the building blocks of rocks, can convey the entire story of a planet's evolution, both contribute significant pieces to the puzzle. These factors have profound implications for understanding the evolution of Mars' climate and the role of water on the planet, the potential origin and evidence of life, and the possibilities that may exist for future human exploration.

Other major goals of the Odyssey mission are to:

Determine the abundance of hydrogen, most likely in the form of water ice, in the shallow subsurface
Globally map the elements that make up the surface
Acquire high-resolution thermal infrared images of surface minerals
Provide information about the structure of the Martian surface
Record the radiation environment in low Mars orbit as it relates to radiation-related risk to human exploration

During the 917-day science mission, Odyssey will also serve as a communication relay for U.S. or international scientific orbiters and landers in 2003 and 2004. After this period, the orbiter will be available as a communication relay for an additional 457 days, making for a total mission duration of 1,374 days, or two Martian years. Science operations may still continue during the communication relay-only phase depending on remaining orbiter resources.

The orbiter carries three science instruments: a thermal infrared imaging system, a gamma ray spectrometer and a radiation environment experiment.These are all calibrated during the spacecraft's cruise phrase on its way to Mars. Opportunities for data collection are assigned on a time-phased basis depending on when conditions are most favorable for specific instruments.