The Longest-Serving Mars Spacecraft
Mars Odyssey holds the record for the longest continuously active spacecraft at Mars. Arriving in October 2001, it has operated for over 24 years. Its Gamma Ray Spectrometer discovered vast deposits of subsurface water ice near the poles — a finding that shaped the direction of Mars exploration.
Mission Timeline
2001-04-07
Launch on Delta II
2001-10-24
Mars orbit insertion
2002-05
Detected massive water ice deposits