Exploring the Solar SystemMars Missions in the Twenty-First Century |
What distinction does the Mars Odyssey hold among Martian spacecraft? |
In December 2010, Mars Odyssey broke the record for the longest-working spacecraft ever sent to Mars. In November 2012, mission controllers switched the orbiter’s main computer and other internal systems to a fresh set of equipment within the spacecraft that had been held in standby since the start of the millennium. The switchover worked perfectly, so Mars Odyssey is expected to continue its mission for years to come.