Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution (MAVEN) orbiter all are part of a campaign to study comet C/2013 A1 Siding Spring and possible effects on the Martian atmosphere from gases and dust released by the comet. The comet sped past Mars today much closer than any other know comet flyby of a planet.

Additional information about the precautions and observations by each of the three orbiters is at:

› Mars Odyssey mission status report

› Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter mission status report

› MAVEN mission status report

For more information about comet Siding Spring and the investigations of its Mars flyby, visit: http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/comets/sidingspring/