Mars and the Pathfinder Expedition

A picture of the Martian surface taken by the Sojourner rover. JPL/NASA

Special Features
Is There Life on Mars? TIME Online examined the news of the discovery last August of a rock possibly bearing evidence of former life on Mars.

Photo EssayPhotos from the landing, the NASA control room and the Sojourner rover.

Mars Chat Transcript of the online discussion in July 1997 with Dr. Robert Anderson, a scientist on the JPL Pathfinder mission team.

Bullseye on Mars A robot swings neatly into orbit. (From the magazine 9/22/97).

What a Cute Universe You Have! Our desire to make the awesome adorable is spoiling the mystery of space. (From the magazine 8/28/97).

The Big Rock Festival In its first full week, Pathfinder delivers cute nicknames, monster pans and an extraterrestrial crash. (From the magazine 7/21/97).

Uncovering Secrets of Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner are merely precursors of a new thrust into interplanetary exploration that is faster and cheaper. (From the magazine 7/14/97).

How Cheap Is It? Compare this week's Pathfinder mission with the two Viking missions 21 years ago. (From the magazine 7/14/97).

Gore's Happy Holiday How one space fan spent the Fourth. (From the magazine 7/14/97).

Cosmic Loneliness The pictures from Mars show how alone we really are. (From the magazine 7/14/97).

Space Empire Man steps off the earth in a new age of exploration. (Special online report).

Links
JPL's Missions to Mars site