MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER

After a seven-month, 310 million mile journey, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was set to fire its engines Friday, abruptly slowing down in order to be captured into the Red Planet's orbit. The spacecraft is loaded with the most sophisticated science instruments ever flown to another planet. It will analyze the Martian surface in detail from low orbit, part of a quest to see whether water existed on Mars long enough to provide a habitat for life. Larry talks with Dr. Sue Smrekar, deputy project scientist for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, and Rob Lock, Mission planner for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter about the Orbiter’s journey that will return more data than all previous Mars missions combined.