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An artist impression of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using its Mars Climate Sounder instrument.This image was acquired by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard MRO on April 18, 2017, at 14:04 local Mars time. This is a crater that has been infilled by material.Craters on steep hills are not common, partly because rocks falling downhill can quickly erase such craters. Here however, MRO observed a small impact that occurred on the sloping wall of a larger crater and is well-preserved.MRO image in the Southern hemisphere of Mars. There are shallow pits in the bright residual cap of carbon dioxide ice and a circular formation that penetrates through the ice and dust. This might be an impact crater or it could be a collapse pit.
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An artist impression of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using its Mars Climate Sounder instrument.NASA/JPL-CalTech
This image was acquired by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera aboard MRO on April 18, 2017, at 14:04 local Mars time. This is a crater that has been infilled by material that is more resistant to erosion than the rocks around it—surrounded by bluish basaltic dunes.NASA/JPL/University of Arizona
Craters on steep hills are not common, partly because rocks falling downhill can quickly erase such craters. Here however, MRO observed a small impact that occurred on the sloping wall of a larger crater and is well-preserved.NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter image in late summer in the Southern hemisphere. The Sun is low in the sky and subtle topography is accentuated. There are shallow pits in the bright residual cap of carbon dioxide ice and a circular formation that penetrates through the ice and dust. This might be an impact crater or it could be a collapse pit.NASA/JPL-Caltech/Univ. of Arizona
MRO Patch
Mission name: MRO

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

A Mission to Study the History of Water on Mars

Mission news and discoveries
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
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Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Rosalind Franklin Society Awards Recognize Laurie BargeJuly 27, 2023
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
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Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA Explores a Winter Wonderland on Mars (NASA JPL)December 27, 2022
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
25 Years of Continuous Robotic Mars Exploration – From Pathfinder to Perseverance (NASA)September 13, 2022
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
The Library of Congress presents Space on the Page!March 16, 2022
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA’s MRO Finds Water Flowed on Mars Longer Than Previously Thought (NASA JPL)January 26, 2022
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA’s Mars Fleet Lies Low As Sun Moves Between Earth and Red Planet (NASA)September 28, 2021
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA Confirms Thousands of Massive, Ancient Volcanic Eruptions on Mars (NASA Goddard)September 15, 2021
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Global Trio of Orbiters Shows Small Dust Storms Help Dry Out Mars (NASA Goddard)August 16, 2021
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Clays, Not Water, Are Likely Source of Mars ‘Lakes’ (NASA JPL)August 02, 2021
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA’s Search for Life: Astrobiology in the Solar System and BeyondJune 25, 2021
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Martian Landslides Caused by Underground Salts and Melting Ice?February 08, 2021
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Serpentinization and Astrobiological Potential of the Mars 2020 Landing SiteApril 09, 2020
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
2020 MEPAG Goals Document Draft is now Available for Community CommentsJanuary 23, 2020
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
New Calibration of Humidity Data from Mars Phoenix LanderOctober 31, 2019
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Apply for "The PI Launchpad: From Science Idea to NASA Mission"September 25, 2019
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
ExoClimes V Presentations Now Available On-Demand!September 09, 2019
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
New NASA Documentary Series: Astrobiology in the Field!April 01, 2019
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Ghost Dune Pits on MarsJuly 30, 2018
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA-ESA Statement of Intent for Mars Sample ReturnMay 07, 2018
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Rare Metals On Mars And Earth Implicate Colossal ImpactsMarch 23, 2018
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Gravity Assist: Mars, with Bruce Jakosky and Michael MeyerJanuary 16, 2018
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
The Mars Water Story Gets Ever More InterestingJanuary 15, 2018
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
NASA Confirms Evidence That Liquid Water Flows on Today’s MarsSeptember 28, 2015
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Sees Ice Exposed by Meteor ImpactSeptember 24, 2009
Artist's concept of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in orbit around the Red Planet.
MRO Reveals Details of a Wetter MarsOctober 30, 2008