List of Mars orbiters

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/list-of-mars-orbiters

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 first successful mars orbiter?NASA's Mariner 9, achieved orbit on November 14, 1971
2. Which mission was the first to orbit Mars?NASA launched Mariner 9 in 1971, and it was the first spacecraft to successfully orbit Mars. It sent back detailed images of features like Valles Marineris and Olympus Mons.
3. How do Mars orbiters help scientists find water on Mars?Orbiters map the planet’s surface with high‑resolution pictures, showing clues like dried river beds and mineral patterns that suggest past water. They also study the planet’s climate to see how water might have moved.

Synoptic Observation: Observing a large area or phenomenon simultaneously for a comprehensive view.
Trajectory Correction Maneuver (TCM): A planned firing of thrusters to adjust a spacecraft's path.
Spectroscopy: The study of the interaction between matter and electromagnetic radiation to determine composition.