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Next generation: Mars '98

   The Mars Surveyor '98 program is the next generation of 
spacecraft to be sent to Mars. Consisting of an orbiter--to be 
launched Dec. 10, 1998, and lander, set for launch on Jan. 3, 
1999--the Mars '98 mission will add to the knowledge gained by 
the Global Surveyor and Pathfinder missions. The general science 
theme for the 1998 Surveyor missions is "Volatiles and Climate 
History." 
   The Mars '98 orbiter will arrive at Mars Sept. 23, 1999, 
while the lander will touch down Dec. 3, 1999.
   Upon arrival at Mars, the spacecraft will use a series of 
aerobraking maneuvers to achieve a stable orbit, and then use 
atmospheric instruments and cameras to provide detailed 
information about the surface and climate of Mars.
   The '98 orbiter mission will carry a rebuilt version of the 
Mars Observer Pressure Modulated Infrared Radiometer (PMIRR), as 
well as the Mars color imaging system. PMIRR will observe the 
global distribution and time variation of temperature, pressure, 
dust, water vapor and condensates in the Martian atmosphere. The 
imaging system will observe synoptically Martian atmospheric 
processes at global scale and study details of the interaction 
of the atmosphere with the surface at a variety of scales in 
both space and time. In addition to the science payload, the 
orbiter spacecraft will provide an on-orbit data relay 
capability for future U.S. and/or international surface 
stations. 
   The lander will land near the southern polar cap and is 
equipped with cameras, a robotics arm and instruments to measure 
the composition of the Martian soil. Two small microprobes are 
also piggybacking on the lander, which will penetrate into the 
Martian subsurface to detect water ice.
   The science package for the lander includes the Mars Volatile 
and Climate Surveyor (MVACS) integrated lander payload, the Mars 
Descent Imager (MARDI) and an atmospheric lidar experiment 
provided by the Russian Space Agency Institute for Space 
Science. The integrated lander payload includes a surface stereo 
imager with Mars Pathfinder heritage; a meteorology package; an 
instrumented robotic arm for sample acquisition, soil 
manipulation and closeup imaging of the surface and subsurface; 
and the thermal and evolved gas analysis experiment for 
determining the nature and abundance of volatile material in the 
Martian soil. 
   The images obtained while the lander descends to the surface 
will establish the geological and physical context of the 
landing site. The atmospheric lidar experiment will determine 
the dust content of the Martian atmosphere above the landing 
site.
   Dr. John McNamee of JPL is Mars Surveyor '98 project manager. 

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