This week, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) will prepare for the arrival of NASA's next Mars lander, Insight. MRO will continue to study Mars and will also prepare for the InSight arrival.

On July 29, a planned firing of six medium-sized thrusters will take place that will adjust the orbiting timing of the MRO. This adjustment will help the veteran spacecraft to be in position to receive radio transmissions from Insight as it enters into the Martian atmosphere and touches down on September 28, 2016.

"Without making this orbit change maneuver, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter would be unable to hear from InSight during the landing, but this will put us in the right place at the right time", said MRO Project Manager Dan Johnston of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.

The orbiter will record InSight's transmissions, the way it has for NASA's Curiosity Mars rover three years back and for NASA's Phoenix Mars lander in 2008. Working of Insight will be study the deep interiors of Mars and will try to get clues of the formation and early evolution of all rocky planets.

MRO has collected high-resolution imaging and spectral data. In comparison to all other deep-space missions, the orbiter has provided several times more data about Mars. MRO will continue to act as communication relay support for Mars proves.

In October 2016 and April 2017, MRO may perform even larger maneuvers. To keep a tab on Insight arrival, MRO will be present in an orbit that passes the equator at around 2.30pm local solar mean time.