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Exploration Of Mars – A Timeline

2001 MARS ODYSSEY (orbiter) – created maps, measured radiation, identified buried water ice, became com relay for landers

2003 SPIRIT and OPPORTUNITY (rovers) – geology/atmospheric observations evidence of wet/habitable conditions in past

2003 MARS EXPRESS (orbiter) – evidence of glacial activity, volcanism, and methane gas

2005 MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER (orbiter) – sounder for subsurface water location, identifies safe landing spots, provides com relay

2007 PHOENIX SCOUT (lander) – hi-res of landing sites, scanned clouds, fog, dust, etc.