Boeing Delta II 7925 Rocket Successfully Launches NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey Spacecraft

By Cliff Lethbridge

CAPE CANAVERAL AIR FORCE STATION, FL (April 7, 2001) - A Boeing Delta II 7925 rocket successfully launched the NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey spacecraft from Launch Pad 17A at 11:02 a.m. EDT today. Launch occurred on time with no delays. This marks the first launch of a spacecraft to Mars since the NASA Mars Climate Orbiter and Mars Polar Lander/Deep Space-2 spacecraft were lost after arriving at Mars in 1999. Launches to the Red Planet can occur, on average, about once every two years during a brief period when Earth and Mars are at their closest distance. The 2001 Mars Odyssey is the only spacecraft to be launched to Mars during the 2001 launch opportunity. In addition to conducting a plethora of scientific observations while in orbit, the spacecraft is intended to provide a data communications link for two NASA Mars landers scheduled for launch in 2003. The spacecraft launched today is expected to arrive at Mars in October, 2001 and does not incorporate a lander.

2001 Mars Odyssey - Mission At A Glance

Prime Contractor: Lockheed-Martin

Spacecraft Length: 7.2 feet
Spacecraft Height: 5.6 feet
Spacecraft Width: 8.5 feet
Wingspan of Solar Array: 18.7 feet

Solar Array Power Output after Launch: 1,500 watts
Solar Array Power in Mars Orbit: 750 watts

Total Weight of Spacecraft: 1,608.7 pounds
Weight of Dry Spacecraft: 731.5 pounds
Weight of Fuel: 779.1 pounds
Weight of Scientific Instruments: 98.1 pounds

Launch Vehicle: Delta II 7925
Launch Vehicle Weight at Launch: 509,232 pounds

Distance from Earth to Mars at Launch: 77.5 million miles
Total Distance Spacecraft Must Travel to Mars: 286 million miles
Mars Arrival Date: October 24, 2001
Distance from Earth to Mars at Arrival: 93 million miles
Speed of Light Time from Earth to Mars at Arrival Date: 8 minutes, 30 seconds

Primary Science Mapping Period: January, 2002 to July, 2004
Scientific Instrument Package One: Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS)
Scientific Instrument Package Two: Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS)
Scientific Instrument Package Three: Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE)

Primary Scientific Objectives:

Map the chemicals and minerals that make up the Martian surface
Determine the abundance of hydrogen and water ice in the Martian shallow subsurface
Globally map the elements that make up the Martian surface
Acquire high-resolution thermal infrared images of Martian surface materials
Detect any surface radiation that may prove a threat to human exploration of Mars
Provide data communications link for Mars landers to be launched in 2003

Total Scheduled Mission Duration: 1,374 days (2 Martian years)

For more detailed information:

NASA 2001 Mars Odyssey Home Page

NASA Mars Exploration Home Page

Copyright © 2001 by Spaceline, Inc.