Tuesday, 9th August 2005 (4452 views)

NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which uses some gold coating, is to be launched on August 10th and aims to capture high-quality images from March 2006.

As well as being used to make components, gold protects instruments and other objects from solar heat; for example, astronauts sport a thin layer of gold on their helmets to ward off harmful radiation.

The spacecraft includes a high resolution imaging science experiment (HiRise) camera that has gold-covered cowling.

The HiRise works similarly to the human eye as it uses visual wavelengths and is so powerful that it will be able to offer clear images from which to identify new sites for exploration.

This is the latest in a drive towards high-resolution images of Mars. Dr. Richard Zurek of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said: "Every time we look with increased resolution, Mars has said, 'Here's something you didn't expect. You don't understand me yet.' We're sure to find surprises."

The spacecraft will operate for two years and carry out eight science investigations into the area, primarily focussed on charting and surveying the surface of Mars.


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