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Mars Orbiter Executes 120-Degree Rolls to Reveal Deeper Subsurface Layers

It boosts SHARAD’s radar signal more than tenfold to map materials up to two kilometers beneath the surface.

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Overview

  • Since 2023, the orbiter has performed one or two 120-degree rolls each year to enhance its subsurface radar capability.
  • These maneuvers amplify SHARAD’s radar signal by ten times or more, enabling clearer detection of rock, sand and ice up to two kilometers below the surface.
  • Carrying out the large rolls requires meticulous power and communications planning to ensure safe battery levels and antenna alignment with Earth.
  • The Mars Climate Sounder now relies on standard MRO rolls after its gimbal became unreliable in 2024, integrating the spacecraft’s routine maneuvers for calibration and surface views.
  • Managed by JPL for NASA’s Mars Exploration Program, MRO’s adaptability underscores its longevity and the mission’s evolving science returns nearly two decades after launch.