It was the first of several orbiters that are surveying the cold, barren lannscape, looking especially for signs of water, and relaying signals from the two robotic rovers crawling over the terrain.

• 它是那些探测这块寒冷贫瘠的土地的卫星中的第一颗，专门用来探索水的迹象，并通过两个缓慢运行于火星表面的飞行器把信号发送回地球。