The launch of the Mars Odyssey 2001 signaled the beginning of a revised plan for the robotic exploration of Mars, the Red Planet. NASA detailed an exploration plan that will span the next two decades. Using new and developing technologies, these investigations are flexible enough to be modified as our knowledge and understanding of Mars increases. It is possible that by 2014 a mission could be launched to return samples from Mars. Many missions are designed to overlap so that, for example, the Odyssey 2001 orbiter will be used as a relay satellite for other missions.