2001 Mars Odyssey

High school (ages 12+)
Space & Astronomy

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/2001-mars-odyssey

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the spacecraft designation?Mars Odyssey Orbiter
2. What is the contractor?Lockheed Martin
3. Why did NASA launch the 2001 Mars Odyssey?NASA wanted to find evidence of water and ice on Mars, study its geology, and map its radiation. The data helps scientists learn if life could have existed on Mars and how future astronauts could stay safe.
4. How long has the 2001 Mars Odyssey been working?It was launched in 2001 and is still operational as of 2025. That means it has been working for more than 24 years, the longest for a spacecraft orbiting another planet.

Subsurface Water Ice: Frozen water found beneath the surface of a planet or moon.
Radiation Environment: The level and type of ionizing radiation present in a specific location, like space or a planet's surface.
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU): Using local resources found on another celestial body to support human exploration.