[meteorite-list] MAVEN Update - February 26, 2014

[Ron Baalke]

https://www.facebook.com/MAVEN2Mars

MAVEN Status Update: Feb. 26, 2014

On Feb. 19 the MAVEN team successfully completed initial post-launch power-on 
and checkout of the Electra Ultra High Frequency Transceiver (shown here). 
This completes the initial checkout of all payloads on the MAVEN spacecraft, 
with everything performing as expected.

The MAVEN Electra payload is part of the National Aeronautics and Space 
Administration - NASA Mars Exploration Program's Mars Relay Network. This 
network is composed of orbiters, including NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey and 
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, that provide reliable, high-data-rate relay 
communications links to landers on the surface of Mars, including NASA's 
Curiosity Mars Rover and MER Opportunity, greatly increasing science data 
return from the Martian surface. MAVEN will be available to provide relay 
services on a contingency basis during its prime science mission and will 
routinely provide relay support during an anticipated extended mission. 


MAVEN's Electra payload is provided and operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion 
Laboratory.

[Image]
(Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech)