NASA launched the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in August 2005 and the next 12 months, on March 10, it entered the orbit of the crimson planet the place it continues to function at this time.

Information returned to Earth by the MRO has revealed Mars in unprecedented element and through the years has helped scientists to search out out extra concerning the fascinating planet. 

For instance, throughout its work, the MRO has discovered indicators that liquid water could seem seasonally on present-day Mars. Because of the orbiter’s ultra-sharp HiRISE digicam, the invention not solely revealed particulars about Mars’ geology and local weather, but additionally helped assess the planet’s potential to help microbial life.

The trusty spacecraft additionally gathers information on the planet’s temperatures and minerals, and might even discover beneath the floor utilizing its radar know-how. 

Whereas its scientific work is as essential as it’s thrilling, the spacecraft is finest identified for the unbelievable imagery that it captures from its orbit about 155–196 miles (250–316 km) up.

On the twentieth anniversary on Tuesday, NASA shared a few of these pictures in a submit on X:

For 20 years, our Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has searched the planet for indicators of long-ago water. It has despatched again images that aren’t solely gorgeous, however helpful – they’ll assist us when future astronauts land on Mars to discover it. Which is your favourite? pic.twitter.com/mc4wHYjqm5

— NASA (@NASA) March 10, 2026

Beneath is a photograph of a Mars crater spanning about 100 toes (30 meters) in diameter, surrounded by a big blast zone. The explosion that made this crater threw ejecta so far as 9.3 miles (15 km). Blue tones have been added to reinforce the main points. 

The subsequent picture, caught by likelihood, reveals a towering mud satan tearing throughout the martian floor. Captured from 185 miles (297 kilometers) above the bottom, the size of the whirlwind’s shadow tells us that it was greater than half a mile (800 meters) excessive, which is analogous to the peak of the United Arab Emirate’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest constructing.

The picture under reveals an space with uncommon texture on the ground of Gale Crater, which is the place NASA’s Curiosity rover landed in 2012. Blue tones have been added for a clearer view.

The rover remains to be working there at this time (the MRO has even photographed it!), slowly climbing the bottom of Mount Sharp (Aeolis Mons), the big mountain on the heart of the crater. It’s price noting that the MRO additionally serves as an important communications bridge, transmitting information from the Curiosity and Perseverance rovers again to Earth.

Once more, blue tones have been added to the seize under to convey out particulars such because the tops of dunes and ripples. Like on Earth, many of those options change over time, with martian winds always blowing the sand, reshaping the panorama. 

NASA will proceed working the MRO for so long as the spacecraft stays wholesome and has sufficient gas, with plans for it to proceed into the late 2020s, and probably past. 

Which means we will stay up for heaps extra unbelievable pictures from the veteran Mars orbiter.