The surface appears smooth at Viking orbiter camera resolution, except for streamlined islands nearby, small hills and small secondary craters. At this site, Pathfinder has the potential to make discoveries that will not only increase our understanding of Mars, but also serve as guideposts for planning future missions. Viking was possibly the most ambitious planetary mission ever launched, and its scientific return was immense. But the days of launching such large and expensive missions are gone. To reach the planets now, we must uncover ways to do more with less.
Pathfinder is a step in that new direction.
In the realms of both science and technology, this small, inexpensive spacecraft is truly leading the way to a bright future in exploring other worlds. Matthew P. Golombek is Mars Pathfinder project scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. All rights reserved.