Live Mars TV Channel Possible

A “Mars TV” channel may be a viewing possibility by the end of the decade, following the launch of a spacecraft dedicated to enabling communications between Mars and Earth. In 2005, NASA plans to launch an orbiter able to upload data from the planet's surface and relay it to Earth. The telecom link is planned as part of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission. The orbiter's mission is to survey the surface of Mars, but it will be equipped to serve as a relay link for other missions, opening the possibility of being able to provide nearly continuous viewing of the surface of Mars.

SPACEandTECH Digest is a weekly roundup of the latest industry news of interest to the space professional. SPACEandTECH Flash! is an internet push service offered by Andrews Space & Technology to bring the latest on orders, launches, and important breaking news to your desktop. SPACEandTECH Digest and SPACEandTECH Flash! are part of the Andrews Space & Technology www.spaceandtech.com website, a website designed to serve the information needs of the space industry.

If you would like to subscribe to the SPACEandTECH Flash! (currently a free service), contact the www.spaceandtech.com Editor-in-Chief, Joe Hopkins, at editor@spaceandtech.com