[LOOK] NASA Orbiter Sees Otherworldly Views of Mars Horizon

NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter has provided scientists with a unique and breathtaking view of the Martian landscape, capturing panoramic images that reveal the Red Planet's curving horizon beneath layers of clouds and dust.

Completing its 22nd year at Mars last month, the orbiter's images offer a perspective that mirrors what astronauts might see orbiting Mars.

Series of 10 Images

The series of 10 images, taken in May from an altitude of about 250 miles (400 kilometers), showcases Mars' terrain in a new light, aiding scientists in gaining fresh insights into the planet's atmosphere.

This vantage point matches the altitude at which the International Space Station (ISS) orbits Earth, providing a view never before experienced by Mars spacecraft.

Jonathon Hill of Arizona State University, overseeing operations for Odyssey's Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera, remarked, "If there were astronauts in orbit over Mars, this is the perspective they would have. No Mars spacecraft has ever had this kind of view before."

Creating this uncommon view presented engineering challenges that required meticulous planning. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin Space spent three months orchestrating THEMIS observations.

THEMIS, with its infrared capabilities, can map various features on Mars' surface, such as ice, rock, sand, and dust. It also gauges temperature changes and can measure water ice or dust in the atmosphere, albeit in a narrow column directly beneath the spacecraft.

To achieve a more expansive view of the Martian atmosphere, Odyssey's orientation needed adjustment. The team rotated the orbiter almost 90 degrees, ensuring sunlight on the solar panels while avoiding overheating sensitive equipment.

This repositioning temporarily severed communication with Odyssey, according to NASA.

A Slice Through the Atmosphere

Jeffrey Plaut, Odyssey's project scientist at JPL, explained, "I think of it as viewing a cross-section, a slice through the atmosphere. There's a lot of detail you can't see from above, which is how THEMIS normally makes these measurements."

The Odyssey mission aspires to capture similar images in the future, spanning multiple Martian seasons, providing a more comprehensive understanding of the atmosphere.

In addition to the Martian views, the orbiter directed THEMIS towards Mars' moon Phobos, capturing imagery that provides fresh insights into the moon's composition and physical properties.

This data contributes to ongoing debates about whether Phobos is a captured asteroid or an ancient fragment of Mars ejected by an impact. The information gathered will prove valuable for both the Odyssey mission and NASA's collaborative sample return mission with JAXA, known as Mars Moon eXplorer (MMX).