NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is testing a new maneuver that allows it to roll nearly upside down, enabling the spacecraft to look deeper underground for water and other resources. The “very large rolls” are 120 degrees, which requires more planning to maintain the safety of the spacecraft.
By teaching an old spacecraft new tricks, engineers have opened up entirely new regions of the subsurface to explore. MRO was originally designed to roll up to 30 degrees in any direction, but the new capability will allow it to target specific spots on the surface with its instruments.
The “Shallow Radar” (SHARAD) instrument is particularly benefiting from this new maneuver, as it can now peer deeper into Mars’ underground. This allows scientists to distinguish between materials like rock, sand, and ice, which is crucial for determining where ice could be found close enough to the surface that future astronauts might one day access it.
However, the process of rolling is not simple. The spacecraft carries five operating science instruments with different pointing requirements, requiring precise planning and negotiation among instrument teams. Engineers are working to streamline this process, but for now, they limit themselves to one or two very large rolls a year.
The Mars Climate Sounder instrument is also making use of MRO’s standard roll capability, providing valuable information on the Martian atmosphere. The team has incorporated rolling into their routine planning, both for surface views and calibration.
NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California manages MRO, while Lockheed Martin Space in Denver built the spacecraft and supports its operations. For more information, visit science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter.
Source: https://www.nasa.gov/missions/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter/nasa-mars-orbiter-learns-new-moves-after-nearly-20-years-in-space