Mars Probes -- NASA

• After failures of $1 billion Mars Observer ‘93 and Mars ‘96 (Russia/Europe)

• NASA (Goldin) -- new focus:

  • Smaller
    • Cheaper (smaller is cheaper!)
      • Faster (it’s faster too!)
    • Many small probes defining a coherent program
      • Learn as we go
        • avoid the 17 year gap from Viking to Mars Observer
        • modify next mission based on previous mission
      • Ultimate goal - return Mars sample in 2005
        • study rocks and soil in lab
          • determine age (radioactive decay)
          • look for signs of present or past life
        • Trip to Mars takes 8-9 months
          • minimum energy elliptical orbit

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