An orbiter is a spacecraft that orbits a planet or moon without landing on it in order to study the object's surface from a safe distance. Ariane 5 lifts off with the Rosetta probe on 2nd of March, 2004. ... In physics, an orbit is the path that an object makes, around another object, whilst under the influence of a source of centripetal force, such as gravity. ... A planet (from the Greek πλανήτης, planētēs which means wanderer or more forcefully vagrant, tramp) is an object in orbit around a star that is not a star in its own right. ... Moons of solar system scaled to Earths Moon The common noun moon (not capitalized) is used to mean any natural satellite of the other planets. ...
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The four elevons, mounted at the trailing edge of the wings, and the rudder/speed brake, attached at the trailing edge of the stabilizer, with the body flap, control the Orbiter during descent and landing.
The orbiter structure is made primarily from aluminium alloy, although the engine thrust structure is made from titanium (alloy).
The Orbiter's speed is reduced from 424 mph (682 km/h) to approximately 215 mph (346 km/h), (compared to 160 mph for a jet airliner), at touch-down.
In 2003, methane was apparently discovered in the atmosphere by Earth-based telescopes and possibly confirmed in March 2004 by the Mars Express Orbiter; present measurements state an average methane concentration of about 11±4 ppb by volume (see reference).
Dozens of spacecraft, including orbiters, landers, and rovers, have been sent to Mars by the Soviet Union, the United States, Europe, and Japan to study the planet's surface, climate, and geography.
Mars Express Orbiter confirmed the presence of water ice and carbon dioxide ice at the planet's south pole.
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