[X] My Assistant

[YesRushGen]

I just browsed the MRO and Stardust websites. Looking at their respective "Where is <spacecraft name> now?" pages, I notice that both are currently midway between Earth and Mars.

I'm thinking that having one of them photograph the other is pure crazy talk. But it did beg the question of how close will they pass each other? Anyone know?

Thanks,

Kelly

[yaohua2000]

I just browsed the MRO and Stardust websites. Looking at their respective "Where is <spacecraft name> now?" pages, I notice that both are currently midway between Earth and Mars.

I'm thinking that having one of them photograph the other is pure crazy talk. But it did beg the question of how close will they pass each other? Anyone know?

Thanks,

Kelly

Your question sounds interesting so I did some calculation with my "magic number" script at JPL Horizons, and:

The minimum distance between Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Stardust was 21831915 kilometers at 2005-11-08 11:27:06 UTC.

(instantaneous distance without light-time correction)

btw, my MRO/Mars magic number page at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Mars_Rec...biter#Countdown

[BPCooper]

This will be the fastest Atlas in history, whereas the MRO vehicle (Atlas 5 401) is the slowest they've launched yet.

Expect NH to fly off similar to a Delta 2 launch and clear the lightning towers in about 4 seconds.