NASA’s Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has nearly reached its destination, but its work is just about to begin. On March 10, the spacecraft will turn on its thrusters, allowing it to be captured by Mars’ gravity. Over the course of the next six months, it will continue adjusting its orbit through a process called aerobraking, where the spacecraft skims through the Martian atmosphere, slowing it down a little bit each time. In addition to the high resolution images and scientific data it will capture, the spacecraft will help the rovers and future landers communicate back to Earth.