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Communications With Earth
Mission Timeline: Communications Relay
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This graphic is to illustrate the orbital spacecraft flying over the rover on the surface of Mars as if the two spacecraft were communicating.  The graphic depicts an unrealistic view of the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft flying what appears to be about 10 feet above the Mars Exploration rover, which sits on its lander, soon after landing, before rising up on it's six wheels.  In reality, the orbiter flies 249 miles (400 kilometers) above the surface of Mars.
Artists concept: Communications Relay with Mars Exploration Rovers
Image credit: NASA/JPL
This area is being revised as part of a post-mission strategy to add information for the historical record that was not fully covered in the original mission site.

In the meantime, for more information, please see the archived relay page.

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