[meteorite-list] MAVEN Update - February 26, 2014

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Wed, 26 Feb 2014 09:42:43 -0800 (PST)
Message-ID: <201402261742.s1QHgiaC003741_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

https://www.facebook.com/MAVEN2Mars

MAVEN Status Update: Feb. 26, 2014

On Feb. 19 the MAVEN team successfully completed initial post-launch power-on
and checkout of the Electra Ultra High Frequency Transceiver (shown here).
This completes the initial checkout of all payloads on the MAVEN spacecraft,
with everything performing as expected.

The MAVEN Electra payload is part of the National Aeronautics and Space
Administration - NASA Mars Exploration Program's Mars Relay Network. This
network is composed of orbiters, including NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey and
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, that provide reliable, high-data-rate relay
communications links to landers on the surface of Mars, including NASA's
Curiosity Mars Rover and MER Opportunity, greatly increasing science data
return from the Martian surface. MAVEN will be available to provide relay
services on a contingency basis during its prime science mission and will
routinely provide relay support during an anticipated extended mission.


MAVEN's Electra payload is provided and operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory.

[Image]
(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)
Received on Wed 26 Feb 2014 12:42:43 PM PST