Editing Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (section)

== Pre-launch ==
After the failures of the ''[[Mars Climate Orbiter]]'' and the [[Mars Polar Lander]] missions in 1999, [[NASA]] reorganized and replanned its [[Mars Exploration Program]]. In October 2000, NASA announced its reformulated Mars plans, which reduced the number of planned missions and introduced a new theme, "follow the water". The plans included the ''Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter'' (''MRO''), to be launched in 2005.<ref name="NASA Unveils Plans for 21st Century Mars Campaign"/>

On October 3, 2001, NASA chose [[Lockheed Martin]] as the primary contractor for the spacecraft's fabrication.<ref name="NASA Picks Lockheed Martin to Build 2005 Mars Craft"/> By the end of 2001 all of the mission's instruments were selected. There were no major setbacks during the ''MRO''<nowiki/>'s construction, and the spacecraft was shipped to [[John F. Kennedy Space Center]] on May 1, 2005, to prepare it for launch.<ref name="Moving Day For Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter"/>