Overview
- NASA announced the milestone in mid‑December, noting the Oct. 7 image shows mesas and dunes in Syrtis Major about 50 miles southeast of Jezero Crater.
- Researchers are using the scene to probe how wind transports and traps sand that builds the region’s dunes.
- Mission leaders say long‑term HiRISE monitoring has documented active surface change, including migrating dune fields and occasional avalanches.
- The target was proposed via the HiWish public portal by a high school student, and the University of Arizona team provides rapid data releases and 3D flyover models.
- MRO has operated for nearly 20 years and returned more than 450 terabits of data; JPL manages the mission, Lockheed Martin built and supports the spacecraft, and HiRISE was built by Ball Aerospace and is operated by the University of Arizona.