The Mars Exploration Program is marching along in accordance with its strategic plan. Dr. John McNamee was hired as project manager for Mars Surveyor 1998 and Sylvia Miller as new manager for projects beyond 1998. Mars Surveyor 1998 has also selected a spacecraft contractor, Lockheed-Martin, who will be building both the orbiter and lander in Denver, Colorado. Since Lockheed-Martin is building the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, as well, we can take full advantage of partnerships now being forged between JPL/NASA and the Lockheed-Martin folks.

Scientists are developing proposals for instruments to fly on the 1998 orbiter and lander, and we expect all of the instruments to be selected by October 1995. Some of these instruments may be provided by other countries.

It looks like the Russians will not be able to participate as fully in the 1998 mission as we had expected, but they may provide an instrument for the orbiter, and/or participate in the lander science. (Originally, we hoped that the Russians could provide a launch vehicle and a large payload for 1998 as discussed in Roger Bourke's article below). We are still hopeful of a "Mars Together" with the Russians in 2001.

Mars Global Surveyor and Pathfinder are proceeding rather smoothly toward their launches in late 1996. All the "Martians" are working very hard to launch on time. We have passed the two-years-to-landing mark for Pathfinder (July 4, 1997); and all the 1996 spacecraft are being assembled and tested, including the rover, which can now "stand up" to its full height (about a foot) from its "squatting" position on the Pathfinder lander petal. Meanwhile, the Pathfinder lander has successfully completed a rugged series of tests of its parachute, rockets, and airbags. (In one test, it bounced as high as a ten-story building.) In addition, the first instrument has been delivered to Mars Global Surveyor. So things are really coming together!

Mars Exploration projects were featured in late July at the JPL Open House in Pasadena, where visitors looked at models, videos, and pictures, and talked to the Martians. We will also be participating in an open house at the California Museum of Science and Industry in Los Angeles, and in Hawaii's "Space Week" festivities. Next year, we will have a display in the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Eventually, we hope that everyone can find a way to see some of our "Mars stuff."

-Donna Shirley