Mars orbiter repositioned to phone home Mars landing
July 25, 2012



NASA scientists have successfully adjusted the Mars Odyssey spacecraft’s orbital location to be in a better position to provide prompt confirmation of the August landing of the Curiosity rover.

NASA’s Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) spacecraft carrying Curiosity can send limited information directly to Earth as it enters Mars’ atmosphere. Before the landing, however, Earth will set below the martian horizon from the descending spacecraft’s perspective, ending that direct route of communication. Odyssey will speed up the indirect communication process....



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NASA Moves Old Spacecraft to Track New Mars Rover's Landing
[link to www.space.com]