The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is a NASA spacecraft sent to study the geology, climate and surface of Mars from orbit. It was launched on an Atlas V rocket from Cape Canaveral in August 2005 and entered orbit around the planet in March 2006. Its HiRISE camera can see objects about a metre across on the surface, and it has studied possible landing sites for rovers and landers and found evidence of water in the planet's past, including minerals formed in the presence of water and buried ice at middle latitudes. It also acts as a relay for communications between Earth and rovers such as Curiosity and Perseverance. It has operated for far longer than its original two-year mission.
Before and after
- 7 July 20057 July 2005 London bombings
- 9 July 2005Rise of Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions
- 16 July 2005Publication of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince
- 29 July 2005Founding of Universidade Federal do Recôncavo da Bahia
- 12 August 2005Launch of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- 17 August 2005Release of Joomla
- 22 August 2005Discovery of Gliese 581 b
- from 29 August 2005 to 30 May 2017Premiere of Prison Break
- 10 September 2005Discovery of Dysnomia
More in Universe & space
- 30 September 1975Discovery of Themisto
- 24 May 1981Discovery of Larissa
- 22 August 1981Discovery of Pan
- 20 January 1986Discovery of Ophelia
- 19 February 1986Launch of Mir
- 18 September 1989Discovery of Naiad
The era
This moment belongs to the Contemporary world (1945 CE to today), the world since 1945. You can also browse everything in the 21st century.