Editing Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (section)

== Timeline ==
[[File:169384main pia09189-330.jpg|thumb|Tectonic fractures within the [[Candor Chasma]] region of [[Valles Marineris]], Mars, retain ridge-like shapes as the surrounding bedrock erodes away.|267x267px]][[File:MRO sees Curiosity landing.jpg|thumb|The ''Curiosity'' rover during atmospheric entry as seen by HiRISE on August 6, 2012. Supersonic parachute and backshell visible]]
[[File:PIA19913-MarsLandingSite-Ares3Mission-TheMartian-2015Film-20150517.jpg|thumb|Image taken by HiRISE of [[Acidalia Planitia]] on May 17, 2015, where the novel [[The Martian (Weir novel)|''The Martian'']] and its [[The Martian (film)|film adaptation]] take place]]
[[File:PIA22487-Mars-BeforeAfterDust-20180719.gif|thumb|Comparison of Mars with and without the [[Dust storms on Mars|dust storm]] that caused the end of the [[Opportunity (rover)|''Opportunity'']] rover, taken by MARCI in 2018]]{{Main|Timeline of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter}}
On September 29, 2006 ([[Timekeeping on Mars#Sols|sol]] {{age in sols|2005|08|12|2006|09|29}}), ''MRO'' took its first [[Image resolution|high resolution image]] from its science orbit. This image is said to resolve items as small as 90&nbsp;cm (3&nbsp;feet) in diameter. On October 6, NASA released detailed pictures from the ''MRO'' of [[Victoria crater]] along with the [[Opportunity rover|''Opportunity'' rover]] on the rim above it.<ref name="bbc" /> In November, problems began to surface in the operation of two ''MRO'' spacecraft instruments. A [[Stepping (debugging)|stepping]] mechanism in the Mars Climate Sounder (MCS) skipped on multiple occasions resulting in a [[field of view]] that was slightly out of position. By December, normal operations of the instrument had been suspended, although a [[mitigation]] strategy allows the instrument to continue making most of its intended observations.<ref name="planetary" /> Also, an increase in [[Noise (spectral phenomenon)|noise]] and resulting bad [[pixels]] has been observed in several [[Charge-coupled device|CCD]]s of the [[High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment]] (HiRISE). Operation of this camera with a longer warm-up time{{Efn|Due to the coldness of space, spacecraft instruments need to be "warmed up" to operate properly.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Thermal Systems – NASA |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/mro/mission/spacecraft/parts/thermal/ |access-date=2023-08-21 |website=mars.nasa.gov |language=en |archive-date=October 1, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231001161151/https://mars.nasa.gov/mro/mission/spacecraft/parts/thermal/ |url-status=live }}</ref>}} has alleviated the issue. However, the cause is still unknown and may return.<ref name="newscientist" />

On November 17, 2006, NASA announced the successful test of the ''MRO'' as an orbital communications relay. Using the NASA rover ''[[Spirit rover|Spirit]]'' as the point of origin for the transmission, the ''MRO'' acted as a relay for transmitting data back to Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=November 17, 2006 |title=NASA's Newest Mars Orbiter Passes Communications Relay Test |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/336/nasas-newest-mars-orbiter-passes-communications-relay-test/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230120181523/https://mars.nasa.gov/news/336/nasas-newest-mars-orbiter-passes-communications-relay-test/ |archive-date=January 20, 2023 |access-date=January 20, 2023 |website=NASA Mars Exploration Program}}</ref> HiRISE was able to photograph the ''Phoenix'' lander during its [[parachute]]d [[Mars landing|descent]] to [[Vastitas Borealis]] on May 25, 2008 (sol {{age in sols|2005|08|12|2008|05|25}}).<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 27, 2008 |title=PIA10705: Phoenix Descending with Crater in the Background |url=https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10705 |access-date=January 20, 2023 |website=NASA JPL Photojournal |archive-date=August 7, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220807215107/https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10705 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The orbiter continued to experience recurring problems in 2009, including four spontaneous resets, culminating in a four-month shut-down of the spacecraft from August to December.<ref name="AW"/> Though engineers were not able to determine the cause of the recurrent resets, they suspected a piece of electronics had been affected by radiation. While investigating, the engineers discovered and fixed a flaw that could have deleted all critical information onboard the ''MRO''.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|page=7}} Another spontaneous reset occurred in September 2010.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |title=In Depth {{!}} Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter |url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/in-depth |access-date=2023-02-21 |website=NASA Solar System Exploration |archive-date=April 3, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200403194812/https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/in-depth/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On March 3, 2010, the ''MRO'' passed another significant milestone, having transmitted over 100 terabits of data back to Earth, which was more than all other interplanetary probes sent from Earth combined.<ref name="Scientists wowed by data from Mars probe">{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna35698998|title=Scientists Wowed by Data From Mars Probe|website=[[NBC News]]|date=March 4, 2010 |access-date=April 21, 2013|archive-date=April 14, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130414205728/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/35698998/ns/technology_and_science-space/t/scientists-wowed-data-mars-probe/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In December 2010, the first Extended Mission began. Goals included exploring [[Climate of Mars#Seasons|seasonal processes]], searching for surface changes, and providing support for other Martian spacecraft. This lasted until October 2012, after which NASA started the ''MRO''<nowiki/>'s second Extended Mission, which lasted until October 2014.<ref name=":2" /> As of 2023, the ''MRO'' has completed five missions, and is currently on its sixth.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 25, 2022 |title=NASA Extends Exploration for 8 Planetary Science Missions |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/9175/nasa-extends-exploration-for-8-planetary-science-missions/ |access-date=July 7, 2023 |website=NASA Mars Exploration |archive-date=July 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230708025149/https://mars.nasa.gov/news/9175/nasa-extends-exploration-for-8-planetary-science-missions/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

On August 6, 2012 (sol {{age in sols|2005|08|12|2012|08|06}}), the orbiter passed over [[Gale crater]], the landing site of the Mars Science Laboratory mission, during its [[Atmospheric entry|EDL]] phase. It captured an image via the HiRISE camera of the [[Curiosity rover|''Curiosity'' rover]] descending with its backshell and [[Supersonic speed|supersonic]] parachute.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 6, 2012 |title=Curiosity Spotted on Parachute by Orbiter |url=https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/4242/curiosity-spotted-on-parachute-by-orbiter/?site=msl |access-date=January 20, 2023 |website=NASA MARS Exploration Program |archive-date=December 1, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201214008/https://mars.nasa.gov/resources/4242/curiosity-spotted-on-parachute-by-orbiter/?site=msl |url-status=live }}</ref> In December 2014 and April 2015, ''Curiosity'' was photographed again by HiRISE inside Gale Crater.<ref name="mro-in-depth">{{cite web |title=Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter – In Depth |url=https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/in-depth/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180908033328/https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/in-depth/ |archive-date=September 8, 2018 |access-date=April 24, 2020 |website=NASA Solar System Exploration}}</ref>

Another computer anomaly occurred on March 9, 2014, when the ''MRO'' put itself into [[Safe mode in spacecraft|safe mode]] after an unscheduled swap from one computer to another. The ''MRO'' resumed normal science operations four days later. This occurred again on April 11, 2015, after which the MRO returned to full operational capabilities a week later.<ref name=":2" /> 

NASA reported that the ''MRO'',<ref name="NASA-20141019-MRO">{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Studies Comet Flyby |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4344 |date=October 19, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-date=June 9, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170609192135/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4344 |url-status=live }}</ref> as well as the [[Mars Odyssey|''Mars Odyssey'' Orbiter]]<ref name="NASA-20141019-ODY">{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |title=NASA's Mars Odyssey Orbiter Watches Comet Fly Near |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4346 |date=October 19, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-date=May 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170508024228/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4346 |url-status=live }}</ref> and ''MAVEN'' orbiter<ref name="NASA-20141019-MAV">{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Nancy |last2=Steigerwald |first2=Bill |last3=Webster |first3=Guy |last4=Brown |first4=Dwayne |title=NASA's MAVEN Studies Passing Comet and Its Effects |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4345 |date=October 19, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-date=July 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170704193211/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4345 |url-status=live }}</ref> had a chance to study the [[C/2013 A1|Comet Siding Spring]] flyby on October 19, 2014.<ref name="NASA-20141019">{{cite web |last1=Webster |first1=Guy |last2=Brown |first2=Dwayne |last3=Jones |first3=Nancy |last4=Steigerwald |first4=Bill |title=All Three NASA Mars Orbiters Healthy After Comet Flyby |url=http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4347 |date=October 19, 2014 |work=[[NASA]] |access-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-date=July 3, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170703011007/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=4347 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="NYT-20141019">{{cite news |date=October 19, 2014 |title=A Comet's Brush With Mars |work=[[New York Times]] |agency=Agence France-Presse |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/science/a-comets-brush-with-mars.html |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=October 20, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141027234401/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/10/19/science/a-comets-brush-with-mars.html |archive-date=October 27, 2014}}</ref> To minimize risk of damage from the material shed by the comet, the ''MRO'' made orbital adjustments on July 2, 2014, and August 27, 2014. During the flyby, the ''MRO'' took the best ever pictures of a comet from the [[Oort cloud]] and was not damaged.<ref name="mro-in-depth" />

In January 2015, the ''MRO'' discovered and identified the wreckage of Britain's ''[[Beagle 2]]'', which was lost during its landing phase in 2003 and was thought to have crashed. The images revealed that ''Beagle 2'' had actually landed safely, but one or two of its [[Solar panels on spacecraft|solar panels]] had failed to fully deploy, which blocked the radio antenna.<ref name="mro-in-depth" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Davis |first=Nicola |date=2016-11-11 |title=Beagle 2 Mars probe was 'excruciatingly close' to success, new research reveals |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/11/beagle-2-mars-probe-was-excruciatingly-close-to-success-new-research-reveals |access-date=2023-03-07 |issn=0261-3077 |archive-date=March 7, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230307164136/https://www.theguardian.com/science/2016/nov/11/beagle-2-mars-probe-was-excruciatingly-close-to-success-new-research-reveals |url-status=live }}</ref> In October 2016, the crash site of another lost spacecraft, [[Schiaparelli EDM|''Schiaparelli'' EDM]], was photographed by the ''MRO'', using both the CTX and HiRISE cameras.<ref name="mro-in-depth" />

On July 29, 2015, the ''MRO'' was placed into a new orbit to provide communications support during the anticipated arrival of the ''InSight'' Mars lander mission in September 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2015-07-30|title=Mars orbiter prepares for next year's InSight lander arrival
|first=David |last=Szondy
|url=https://newatlas.com/mars-orbiter-prepares-for-new-arrival/38665/|access-date=2023-01-21|website=New Atlas|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730210411/http://www.gizmag.com/mars-orbiter-prepares-for-new-arrival/38665/ |archive-date=July 30, 2015}}</ref> The maneuver's engine burn lasted for 75 seconds.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/mro/nasa-mars-orbiter-preparing-for-mars-landers-2016-arrival |title=NASA Mars Orbiter Preparing for Mars Lander's 2016 Arrival |date=July 28, 2015 |access-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-date=July 30, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150730234714/http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/mro/nasa-mars-orbiter-preparing-for-mars-landers-2016-arrival/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''InSight'' was delayed and missed the 2016 [[launch window]], but was successfully launched during the next window on May 5, 2018, and landed on November 26, 2018.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8392/nasa-insight-lander-arrives-on-martian-surface/|title=NASA InSight lander arrives on Martian surface|work=NASA's Mars Exploration Program|access-date=November 26, 2018|language=en|archive-date=August 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806152832/https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8392/nasa-insight-lander-arrives-on-martian-surface/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Due to the longevity of the mission, a number of ''MRO'' components have started deteriorating. From the start of the mission in 2005 to 2017, the ''MRO'' had used a [[Miniature inertial measurement unit|miniature inertial measurement unit (MIMU)]] for altitude and orientation control. After 58,000 hours of use, and limited signs of life, the orbiter switched over to a backup, which, as of 2018, has reached 52,000 hours of use. To conserve the life of the backup, NASA switched from MIMUs to an "all-stellar" mode for routine operations in 2018. The "all-stellar" mode uses [[Star tracker|cameras]] and [[pattern recognition]] software to determine the location of stars, which can then be used to identify the ''MRO''<nowiki/>'s orientation.<ref name=":6">{{cite news |date=February 9, 2018 |title=Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Preparing for Years Ahead |work=NASA/JPL |publisher=JPL Press Office |url=https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7059 |url-status=live |access-date=April 24, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803181743/https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.php?feature=7059 |archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> Problems with blurring in pictures from HiRISE and battery degradation also arose in 2017 but have since been resolved.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McEwen |first=Alfred |date=April 23, 2019 |title=HiRISE Team Overcomes Imaging Glitches as Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Eyes another Decade in Orbit |url=https://www.planetary.org/articles/hirise-imaging-glitches |access-date=2023-08-04 |website=[[The Planetary Society]] |language=en |archive-date=February 5, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230205005547/https://www.planetary.org/articles/hirise-imaging-glitches |url-status=live }}</ref> In August 2023, electronic units within the HiRISE's CCD RED4 sensor began to fail as well, and are causing visual artifacts in pictures taken.<ref>{{Cite web |title=HiRISE {{!}} Image Catalog |url=https://www.uahirise.org/catalog/ |access-date=2023-10-31 |website=www.uahirise.org |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420103851/https://www.uahirise.org/catalog/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, the [[cryocooler]]s used by CRISM completed their lifecycle, limiting the instrument's capabilities to [[Visible spectrum|visible wavelengths]], instead of its full wavelength range. In 2022, NASA announced the shutdown of CRISM in its entirety, and the instrument was formally retired on April 3, 2023, after creating two final, near global, maps using prior data and a more limited second spectrometer that did not require cryocoolers.<ref name="mro-in-depth" /><ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hartono |first=Naomi |date=2023-04-25 |title=NASA Retires Mineral Mapping Instrument on Mars Orbiter |url=http://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-retires-mineral-mapping-instrument-on-mars-orbiter |access-date=2023-06-23 |website=NASA |archive-date=June 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230622075122/https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-retires-mineral-mapping-instrument-on-mars-orbiter/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{As of|2024|January}}, the ''MRO'' has around 132 kg of fuel remaining, enough to support operations until 2035.<ref name=":8" />{{Rp|page=3}}