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| Summary |
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Odyssey Science Objectives
In its extended mission, Mars Odyssey continues to map chemical elements and minerals on the
surface of Mars, look for water in the shallow subsurface, and analyze the
radiation environment to determine its potential effects on human
health. (Detailed Objectives)
| To learn how Odyssey has addressed these detailed objectives, please see the "Mission Success" story. |
Odyssey's science investigations directly support the Mars Exploration Program's
overall science strategy of " Following the Water". The four
science goals that support this strategy for discovery are:
Goal 1: Determine whether Life ever arose on Mars [more on Goal 1] |
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While Odyssey does not carry instruments for detecting life on Mars,
data from the mission helps us understand whether the
environment of Mars was-or is--conducive to life. One of the
fundamental requirements for life as we know it is the presence of
liquid water. For the first time at Mars, a spacecraft was
equipped to find evidence of present near-surface water and
mapped mineral deposits from past water activity. |
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Goal 2: Characterize the Climate of Mars [more on Goal 2] |
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Mars today is far too cold with an atmosphere that is far too
thin to support liquid water on the surface. However, Odyssey discovered that much of the
water on Mars is trapped under the surface as
ice. Odyssey allowed scientists to measure the amount
of permanent ground ice and how it changes with the seasons.
In addition, Odyssey's studies of the geologic landforms and
minerals-especially those that formed in the presence of water--
help us understand the role of water in the evolution of the
martian climate since the planet first formed some 4.5 billion
years ago. |
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Goal 3: Characterize the Geology of Mars [more on Goal 3] |
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Mars Odyssey determined the
chemical elements (e.g., carbon, silicon, iron, etc.) and minerals that make up the planet Mars,
and continues to help explain how the planet's landforms developed over
time. The chemical elements are the building blocks
of minerals, minerals are the building blocks of rocks, and all of
these relate to the structure and landforms of the martian
surface. This understanding in turn provides clues to the geological and climatic history of
Mars and the potential for finding past or present life. |
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Goal 4: Prepare for Human Exploration [more on Goal 4] |
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The Mars Radiation Environment Experiment gave us a
first look at the radiation levels at Mars as they relate to the
potential hazards faced by possible future astronaut crews. The
experiment took data on the way to Mars and in orbit, so that
future mission designers will know better how to outfit human
explorers for their journey to the red planet. |
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Innovative applications of technology
in the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission enable us to meet these science goals.
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