NASA spacecraft makes 60,000 orbits around Mars

If you think that a holiday trip to France is already a trip around the world, you may want to scratch your head. The Mars Odyssey made its 60,000th orbit around the red planet on Tuesday — without stopping for a bathroom break or a sandwich at a gas station.

NASA launched the spacecraft in April 2001. Named after Arthur C. Clarke’s science fiction book 2001: A Space Odyssey, the probe arrived at Mars in October that year. He couldn’t jump to action right away. First, the Odyssey had to be slowed down in the planet’s atmosphere, which is called “aerobraking.”

The Odyssey is an oldie. The 376 kg colossus orbits the red planet the longest of all probes. Since its launch, Odyssey’s Themis camera has captured Mars with 208,240 images in visible wavelengths and 188,760 in infrared light. “And it just keeps going,” NASA said.

Thanks to the spacecraft, NASA discovered that large amounts of water ice are present in the Antarctic. This while scientists thought it was solid carbon dioxide, or dry ice. Because of the unexpected smooth operation of the device, NASA extended the mission twice.

Nowadays, the ‘elderly’ probe is allowed to keep a close eye on its sporty brother, the fanatical Mars cart Curiosity. Curiosity drives through a valley on its way to Mount Sharp, something a probe just recorded. Anyway: there is no ‘pee break’ for Odyssey for the time being.