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Polar orbit is quite common for observation satellites. It seems logic to put probes whose goal is to observe Mars (pictures, cartography) on a polar orbit around Mars. But traveling from Earth to any Mars orbit is difficult enough to avoid targeting any orbit whose inclination is far away from the ecliptic.

Have we sent any observation satellites or any other kind of probe designed to orbit over Mars on a polar orbit?

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    $\begingroup$ The premise is incorrect, and even backwards. The approach declination actually prevents orbit inclinations below that declination, for a single-burn orbit insertion. Targeting orbit inclinations greater than the approach declination, up to polar, are all equally easy (or equally difficult, depending on how you look at it). $\endgroup$
    – Mark Adler
    Aug 21, 2015 at 16:54

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Targeting an inclination for a satellite is much easier than targeting a landing spot, and both are routinely done. The trick is to know exactly what you are aiming for, and take frequent small corrective steps to ensure it will happen. Here's a list of the objects I know orbit Mars in polar (Which I define as between 80-100 inclination) orbits:

  • Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
  • Mars Odyssey
  • Mars Global Surveyor (Inactive)
  • Mars Express

In addition, MAVEN is in a near polar inclination (75), although not quite what I consider polar.


From NASA's May 2015 story Traffic Around Mars Gets Busy, here's a graphic depicting the relative shapes and distances from Mars for five active orbiter missions plus the planet's two natural satellites (Mars Global Surveyor is inactive and likely in safe mode since 2006):

Active orbiters around Mars

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