1. Modern Exploration Mars Odyssey
NASA’s theme for Mars exploration, “Follow the Water”, began with the 2001 Mars Odyssey mission
Odyssey, and every mission since, has addressed the Mars programs’ four goals:
Determine whether life ever arose on Mars
Characterize the climate of Mars
Characterize the geology of Mars
Prepare for human exploration

2. Modern Exploration Mars Odyssey
Objectives:
Determine the abundance of hydrogen, most likely in the form of water ice, in the shallow subsurface
Globally map the elements that make up the surface
Acquire high-resolution thermal infrared images of surface minerals
Provide information about the structure of the Martian surface
Record the radiation environment in low Mars orbit as it relates to radiation-related risk to human exploration

3. Modern Exploration Odyssey
Launched April 7, 2001; arrived October 24, 2001
3 instruments:
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS); mineralogy
Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS); elemental composition
Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE)

4. Modern Exploration Odyssey
Launched April 7, 2001; arrived October 24, 2001
3 instruments:
Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS); mineralogy
Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS); elemental composition
Martian Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE)

5. Modern Exploration Odyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

6. Modern Exploration Odyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

7. Modern Exploration Odyssey
Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

8. Modern Exploration Odyssey
Notable results from Odyssey
Evidence for vast amounts of subsurface water ice at both polar regions
Can you see it?

9. Modern Exploration Odyssey