NASA orbital mission to Mars launched August, 2005. During its two-year primary science mission, which began in November, 2006, MRO will conduct science investigations with a suite of instruments tasked for three purposes: global mapping, regional surveying, and high-resolution targeting of specific spots on the surface. Goals include studying the history of water on Mars, analyzing minerals, tracing how much dust and water are distributed in the atmosphere, and monitoring daily global weather.