NASA’s next mission to Mars is off and running. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter lifted off a couple of days ago and should arrive at Mars in 7 months. This one will orbit the planet, map its surface at really high resolution, and send back a lot more detailed information about what’s on the surface of the Red Planet.

It’s exciting that we have the ongoing exploration of the solar system. Mercury is due for a visit from MESSENGER in a couple of years. That mission will fill in the gaps of our knowledge left behind by the Mariner mission. Cassini continues to give us more information about Saturn, and of course we have our flotilla of orbiters and rovers on Mars. What’s not to like about all this?