Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is a Lockheed Martin-built Mars-orbiter design optimized for high-resolution surface reconnaissance, atmospheric studies, and a high-data-rate communications relay for other Mars missions. Its integrated monopropellant hydrazine propulsion subsystem uses twenty thrusters in three sizes: six 170 N thrusters for Mars orbit insertion and early trajectory correction, six 22 N thrusters for cruise corrections and aerobraking-orbit adjustments, and eight 0.9 N thrusters for attitude control, reaction-wheel momentum unloading, spacecraft roll, and trajectory-correction support.
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Identity
- Aliases
- MROMars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- Family Name
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
- Full Name
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft
- Roles
- interplanetary_probeorbitercommunicationsresearch
- Status
- active
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is a Lockheed Martin-built Mars-orbiter design optimized for high-resolution surface reconnaissance, atmospheric studies, and a high-data-rate communications relay for other Mars missions. Its integrated monopropellant hydrazine propulsion subsystem uses twenty thrusters in three sizes: six 170 N thrusters for Mars orbit insertion and early trajectory correction, six 22 N thrusters for cruise corrections and aerobraking-orbit adjustments, and eight 0.9 N thrusters for attitude control, reaction-wheel momentum unloading, spacecraft roll, and trajectory-correction support.
- Dimensions
- Diameter M
- 3
- Height M
- 6.5
- First Flight Year
- 2,005
- Last Flight Year
- 2,005
- Manufacturer
- Operator
- Programs
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Placement
- spacecraft
- Propulsion System
- Role
- maneuvering
- Stage
- spacecraft
- Variant Notes
- One MRO integrated hydrazine propulsion subsystem with six 170 N, six 22 N, and eight 0.9 N thrusters.
- Name
- Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter monopropellant propulsion installation
- Notes
- NASA documents twenty hydrazine thrusters in three sizes and their separate orbit-insertion, trajectory-correction, attitude, roll, and momentum-management roles. Count 1 represents the complete installed orbiter propulsion subsystem.
- Spacecraft Specs
- Launch Mass Kg
- 2,180
- Reusability
- expendable
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- Creation Time
- July 30, 2026 at 20:11:03 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 8, 2026 at 00:29:54 UTC