Ball Aerospace Produces Camera for Mars Mission

Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp. of Boulder, Colo., has delivered the HiRise, or high-resolution imaging science experiment, camera to Lockheed Martin Space Systems of Denver for integration into the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The camera is expected to return highly detailed, color images of the planet's surface. Data provided by the Orbiter will complement the information provided by the Rovers on the martian surface.

Under a contract with the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ball Aerospace designed, built and tested the camera for the Orbiter, which Lockheed is building. The camera will undergo more testing prior to its scheduled launch in August. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the mission.