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2001 Mars Odyssey is an unmanned Spacecraft Orbit ing the planet Mars . Its mission is to use Spectrometer s and Imager s to hunt for evidence of past or present Water and Volcanic Activity on Mars. It is hoped that the data Odyssey obtains will help answer the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars. It also acts as a relay for communications between the Mars Explorations Rovers and Earth . Odyssey was launched " that gradually brought the spacecraft closer to Mars with each orbit. By using the atmosphere of Mars to slow down the spacecraft in its orbit rather than firing its engine or thrusters, Odyssey was able to save more than 200 kilograms (440 pounds) of propellant. Aerobraking ended in January, and began its science mapping mission on February 19 , 2002 . The three primary instruments Odyssey uses are the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS), Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS), and Mars Radiation Environment Experiment (MARIE). It also carries a Neutron spectrometer (HEND), provided by Russia . On May 28 , 2002 , NASA reported that Odyssey's GRS had detected large amounts of Hydrogen , a sign that there must be ice lying within a meter of the planet's surface. NASA has approved an extended mission through September 2006 to allow observation of year-to-year differences in phenomena like polar ice, clouds and dust storms. The extension will also continue Odyssey's support for other Mars missions. About 85 percent of images and other data from NASA's twin Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have reached Earth via communications relay by Odyssey, which receives transmissions from both rovers every day. The orbiter helped analyze potential landing sites for the rovers and is doing the same for NASA's Phoenix Mission , scheduled to land on Mars in 2008. Plans call for Odyssey to aid NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter , which reached Mars in March 2006, by monitoring atmospheric conditions during months when the newly arrived orbiter uses aerobraking to alter its orbit into the desired shape. Mars Odyssey was originally named the Mars Surveyor 2001 Orbiter and was intended to have a companion spacecraft known as ''. The music from Mythodea by Greek composer Vangelis was used as the theme music for the mission. The project was developed by NASA , and contracted out to Lockheed Martin . The expected cost for the entire mission is US$297 million. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS
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