Unveiling Mars from ISS-like heights
NASA’s Odyssey orbiter handled space followers to a brand new perspective of Mars yesterday, November 28, 2023. The Odyssey group stitched 10 photos finish to finish to create a panorama that showcases the Martian horizon from an altitude of roughly 250 miles (400 km). That’s the peak of the Worldwide Area Station (ISS) above Earth. So this new view of Mars is the view ISS astronauts would get, if the space station orbited Mars as a substitute of Earth.
Within the new panorama (above), you’ll be able to see Mars’s skinny ambiance above the planet. Stunning!
Area engineer Jonathon Hill, who’s operations lead for the THEMIS imaging system – which acquired the uncooked photos final Might – said:
No Mars spacecraft has ever had this sort of view earlier than.
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A difficult feat of engineering
According to NASA, acquiring the picture was a difficult feat. Engineers at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin spent three months planning Odyssey’s maneuvers to seize the expansive view of Mars’ skinny ambiance.
To do it, they needed to rotate THEMIS, which usually factors straight down, almost 90 levels for a complete orbit. Prior to now, that they had by no means tried it, not in all Odyssey’s 22 years of orbiting Mars. In actual fact, this spacecraft – which entered Mars orbit in 2001 – is at the moment NASA’s longest-lasting spacecraft at Mars. Perhaps the engineers felt they might take some dangers?
And, although it’d sound easy process to rotate the digital camera, in reality it wasn’t easy in any respect. The duty required cautious coordination to make sure the spacecraft’s delicate gear wouldn’t overheat whereas uncovered to daylight.
Additionally, communication with the orbiter was briefly severed till the method was full.
That should have brought on some nail-biting!
Phobos’ enigmatic origin
The THEMIS imaging system didn’t simply level downward at Mars. It additionally directed its focus towards Mars’ tiny moon, Phobos, offering perception into the place it got here from and what it’s product of. NASA stated this new information would possibly assist settle the continuing debate amongst scientists about Phobos’s origin: Is it a captured asteroid or an ejected fragment from Mars?
Extra than simply fairly
Spacecraft photos may be breathtaking. However they’re extra than simply fairly. Within the case of Mars, particularly, the photographs taken from orbit and from the bottom function beneficial belongings for future space exploration efforts.
The group managing Odyssey already plans to copy these observations sooner or later, capturing the Martian ambiance throughout varied seasons. That’ll be thrilling!
Backside line: What if the Worldwide Area Station orbited Mars? Area engineers took three months to plan this wonderful new view of Mars, as ISS astronauts would see it.
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