But first MGS must circularize its orbit, lowering the high point to about 250 miles. This early artist's conception emphasizes the drag created by the wing-like solar panels. The cumulative effect should find MGS in a more circular mapping orbit by March 1998 . To successfully use aerobraking, mission controllers must achieve an exact orbit and will be handicapped by a limited knowledge of the thickness of the Martian atmosphere . They may even need to alter the spacecraft's course to compensate for changes in Martian weather .
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