On April 7, 2001, NASA launched the 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter from Cape Canaveral, Florida. The spacecraft was designed to study Mars’s surface, climate, and radiation environment from orbit. After arriving at Mars, it provided detailed maps of mineral deposits and evidence of water ice beneath the surface. Its radiation measurements helped planners understand the risks future astronauts might face. Mars Odyssey became one of the longest functioning spacecraft at Mars. Its data has guided both robotic missions and long-term plans for human exploration.
