Mars Climate Orbiter Mars Color Imager (MARCI) Mars Climate
Orbiter MARCI Approach Image MCO MARCI Release No. MARCI-1, 10
September 1999 This image is the first view of Mars taken by the
Mars Climate Orbiter (MCO) Mars Color Imager (MARCI). It was
acquired on 7 September 1999 at about 16:30 UTC (9:30 AM PDT),
when the spacecraft was approximately 4.5 million kilometers
(2.8 million miles) from the planet. This full-scale medium
angle camera view is the highest resolution possible at this
distance from Mars. At this point in its orbit around the sun,
MCO is moving slower than, and being overtaken by, Mars (the
morning side of the planet is visible in this picture). The
center longitude is around 240° W. The Mars Climate Orbiter
spacecraft will reach Mars on September 23, 1999. The Mars orbit
insertion (MOI) will be immediately followed by a period of
aerobraking (into November 1999). The orbiter will then function
as a relay and communication satellite for data from the Mars
Polar Lander through February 2000