The Mars Surveyor '98 program is the next generation of spacecraft
to be sent to Mars. Consisting of an orbiter and lander launched separately
on Med-Lite launch vehicles (Delta 7425 configuration), the Mars '98
mission will add to the knowledge gained by the Mars Global Surveyor
and Mars Pathfinder missions. The general science theme for the 1998
Surveyor missions is "Volatiles and Climate History." The Mars 98 orbiter
(named the Mars Climate Orbiter) will launch in December 1998 and arrive
at Mars 10 months later. 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 Mars 98 lander (named the
Mars Polar Lander) will launch a month after the orbiter and will land
near the southern polar cap on Mars. The lander is equipped with cameras,
a robotic arm and instruments to measure the Martian soil composition.
Two small microprobes are also piggybacking on
the lander, which will penetrate into the Martian subsurface to detect
water ice.
Mars Climate Orbiter
Mars Polar Lander
