How do scientists control the Odyssey spacecraft?
Scientists with instruments on the spacecraft can operate their instruments via telecommunications connections from their home institutions, such as Arizona State University and the University of Arizona. These telecommunication links connect the scientists to Odyssey operation control centers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and Lockheed Martin Astronautics. These, in turn, are connected to NASA’s Deep Space Network, which has three antenna complexes in California, Madrid, Spain and Canberra, Australia. They are situated on the Earth so that as the planet rotates, at least one station will be facing Mars at any given time. All the communications are done with radio signals. Mary Beth Murrill ASU Mars Space Flight Facility Tempe Arizona QUESTION: Will the Mars Odyssey be able to help search for landing sites for future missions. Also when and where will the first pictures from the orbiter be available. ANSWER: Mars Odyssey’s observations of the surface will help inform scientists and e
