Space and Astronomy Atlas

How The Universe Works
Missions and Programs

2001 Mars Odyssey

Mars Orbiter Mission

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2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting Mars, developed by NASA and contracted to Lockheed Martin, launched April 7, 2001 to use spectrometers and a thermal imager to detect evidence of past or present water and ice and to study the planet's geology and radiation environment. As of 2026 the spacecraft remains operational and holds the record for the longest surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth.

Facts
Launch Date
2001-04-07 1
Outcome
Ongoing: still collecting data as of 2026, having set the record for longest continually active spacecraft orbiting a planet other than Earth at over 24 years. 1
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation2001 Mars Odyssey article, lead section
Quote, 2001 Mars Odyssey article, lead section
the record for the longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation2001 Mars Odyssey article, infobox
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation2001 Mars Odyssey article, current status section
Quote, 2001 Mars Odyssey article, current status section
is still collecting data
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