Mission Objectives

Develop and launch two spacecraft (one orbiter and one lander) to Mars during the 1998 Mars transfer opportunity

Separate Med-Lite launch vehicles

Development cost capped at $183.9M (RY$)

Collect and return to Earth, science data resulting from the in situ and remote investigations of the Martian environment by the Lander and Orbiter spacecraft

Landing site targeted near south pole (~80deg S)

90 day primary lander mission

400 km near circular, near polar mapping orbit

2 year science mapping, 5 year data relay mission