PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY
NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
PASADENA, CALIF. 91109. TELEPHONE (818) 354-5011
http://www.jpl.nasa.gov
NOTE TO EDITORS
July 11, 1997
CALTECH TO HOST CELEBRATION OF MARS PATHFINDER MISSION
Members of the media are invited to a celebration of the
Mars Pathfinder mission, to be held at 12:00 noon, July 14, in
the central mall of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA.
Hosted by the California Institute of Technology and JPL's
Human Resources Directorate, the celebration will commemorate the
highly successful Mars Pathfinder mission, which continues to
conduct science experiments on the surface of Mars. Dr. Thomas
Eberhart, outgoing president of Caltech, along with JPL Director
Dr. Edward Stone and members of the Mars Pathfinder flight team
will present brief remarks.
Mars Pathfinder demonstrated a novel approach to landing a
spacecraft and rover on the surface of Mars. Since its historic
July 4 landing, the spacecraft and rover have carried out a week
of science experiments to study rocks and surface soils in an
ancient flood basin of Mars called Ares Vallis. Although
Sojourner's primary mission is scheduled to end on Saturday, July
12, the flight team expects Sojourner to continue operating for
perhaps as long as 30 days. The Pathfinder lander also remains in
excellent health and could operate long after its 30-day primary
mission.
The festivities, which include refreshments and music by
"City Heat," are open to all JPL employees.
JPL is located at 4800 Oak Grove Drive in Pasadena. For
further information, contact the JPL Public Information Office at
(818) 354-5011.
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