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Missions and Programs

2001 Mars Odyssey

Robotic Mars Exploration Missions

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
Mission Type
Mars orbiter 1
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
Mission Type
Mission Type (category)
Orbiter 1
Connections

Associated With

Aerobraking, Concepts

Mars Odyssey used aerobraking to reach its science orbit

Operated By

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Space Agencies and Companies
Source 2001 Mars Odyssey (Wikipedia)
NASA, Space Agencies and Companies
Source 2001 Mars Odyssey (Wikipedia)

Spacecraft Of

2001 Mars Odyssey, Spacecraft
Source Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Additional Source 2001 Mars Odyssey (Wikipedia)2001 Mars Odyssey article, lead section (mission link)
Sources
1. Wikipedia (space and spaceflight articles)
Wikimedia Foundation2001 Mars Odyssey article, infobox, Mission type
Quote, 2001 Mars Odyssey article, infobox, Mission type
Mars orbiter
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2001 Mars Odyssey (Wikipedia)
  • 2001 Mars Odyssey article, lead section
    the record for the longest-surviving continually active spacecraft in orbit around a planet other than Earth
  • 2001 Mars Odyssey article, current status section
    is still collecting data
  • Operated By: NASA, Lead paragraph, operating-agency
    The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, with an expected cost for the entire mission of US$297 million.
  • Operated By: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Lead paragraph, operating-agency
    The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, with an expected cost for the entire mission of US$297 million.
  • Includes: 2001 Mars Odyssey, Lead paragraph, part-of
    2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars.
  • Spacecraft Of: 2001 Mars Odyssey, 2001 Mars Odyssey article, lead section (mission link)
    2001 Mars Odyssey is a robotic spacecraft orbiting the planet Mars.
  • In Group: NASA Mars Missions, Lead sentence
    The project was developed by NASA, and contracted out to Lockheed Martin, with an expected cost for the entire mission of US$297 million.
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