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2005 Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter (MRO) |
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You could describe MRO as "Super
Orbiter" because it's bigger, has extremely high-powered
"vision" and a very high rate of data return. MRO even
has "x-ray" vision in the sense that it's SHARAD antenna
is able to see under the surface. |
MRO Launch: Aug. 12, 2005
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MRO was launched on August 12, 2005.
Even though I didn't see the launch in person my artwork was
widely used. Above are a MRO launch day fact sheet and a poster
that used my MRO artwork. |
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Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter size compared
to Mars Global Surveyor and Odyssey. All three orbiter images
were created by me. How big
is MRO? It's solar panel "wing-span" measures 44 feet
across when fully extended and the spacecraft stands 22 feet
high. |
Lockheed Martin Space Systems
MRO Media Day
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The Atlas
V rocket that launched MRO
Jan. 7, 2005: I was fortunate to
be asked to go see MRO at Lockheed Martin Space Systems in Denver,
Colorado and see MRO and take pictures. I only found out the
day before that I was invited and it was not easy arranging the
flight to Denver and then finding my way through the snowy Colorado
winter night to find my hotel. I only got an hour's sleep but
I made it to the media day tour on time.
It was an unforgettable experience
seeing MRO from only a few feet away. Not to mention the incredible
feeling of being part of the MRO team. After that, I didn't feel
the need to see the launch in person because I had seen it up
close and personal. |
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MRO art at JPL
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The MRO artist next to a light
box display at JPL |
MRO's Mars Orbit Insertion,
March 10, 2006
Welcome to Mars, "Mr.
O!"
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MRO project manger Jim Graf shaking
hand of Dr. Firouz Naderi, with JPL Director Charles Elachi in
the center. Note that they are all wearing MRO Flight Operations
Team shirts with my logo on them, standing in front of my artwork
on the wall. They're also wearing special MRO MOI event badges
with my artwork as well. It was a great day for Mars exploration
and my artwork! |
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Above: my MRO logo proved to be very
popular, even though it was not the official project logo. Happily
for me, a version of it was used on the team's MOI Flight Operations
shirts. I managed to get the last available logo shirt, fortunately.
The artwork portion of the logo was actually designed by Jim
Graf, when he described an idea that I executed for him.
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During MOI, my artwork was on the flight
team's shirts and badgem as well as on the artwork on the wall.
There were also MRO banners around JPL celebrating MRO's
arrival in Mars orbit. |
MRO art at Lockheed
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Lockheed's astronautics division uses
my images of Mars Global Surveyor, Mars Odyssey and the Phoenix
Mars Lander as well as my MRO images. That's one of the highest
compliments I have received. |
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My lifesize MRO artwork at Lockheed
in Denver. This 40 foot wide poster was later displayed on the
outside wall of JPL's High Bay |
Vice-President Cheney's
JPL tour included my artwork - Jan., 2004
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Mars Reconnaissance
Orbiter Large Pic Posters
Click on them
to see full-size |
Italian participation
SHARAD
(Shallow Subsurface Radar)
My MRO patch collection
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I own several MRO watches with my artwork on them and also
a set of MRO drink coasters. |
My favorite MRO postage
stamps
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