(April 14, 2006)—Researchers released the first images Thursday taken by two of the three science cameras on NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

The images were taken during tests of the Context Camera and Mars Color Imager.

"The test images show that both cameras will meet or exceed their performance requirements once they're in the low-altitude science orbit. We're looking forward to that time with great anticipation,"
said Dr. Michael Malin of Malin Space Science Systems, San Diego, who’s the team leader for the Context Camera and principal investigator for the Mars Color Imager.

The orbiter is now flying in elongated loops around the Red Planet, but on Wednesday a burn will nudge the orbiter to within 66 miles of Mars’ surface.

"This brings us well into Mars' upper atmosphere for the drag pass and will enable the mission to start reducing the orbit to its final science altitude," said Dan Johnston of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Pasadena, Calif., deputy mission manager.

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