Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) reached the red planet on 10 March 2006. During its tenth close approach to Mars—its 10th periapsis—the MRO spacecraft turned its cameras to view the planet's surface. Although the images acquired were over a factor of 10 lower in resolution than will ultimately be obtained when the spacecraft and its payload are in their final orbit, these test images provide important confirmation of the performance of the cameras and the spacecraft.
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In the primary science phase of the MRO mission, MARCI [Mars Color Imager] will routinely acquire daily global maps of the planet. These data will be used to help track storms, monitor clouds and water vapor, and track seasonal changes in surface albedo (bright and dark) patterns and the polar caps.
Holy crap, that’s cool.
But can we trust NASA? Some think not, like the crazy people with their crazy talk at Evidence that NASA is altering the true colors of the pictures of Mars:
Investigation shows that there are several indications that the NASA is tampering with the colours, and changes them from an Earth-like environment into a red inhospitable environment. But it seems that the young scientists at Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are not convenient with this.
But I want my Martian adventure!
It won’t be any fun if Mars is just like Earth.
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