Exploratour - Mars Exploration
Mars Global Surveyor
The mission of Mars Global Surveyor (MGS for short) was to map the surface of Mars from space, a mission somewhat like to the Magellan mission to Venus. The mission is currently investigating the topmost portion of the Martian atmosphere, and making detailed observations of the Martian weather.
Because MGS was to orbit Mars and not land on the surface, the trajectory was a little different than that of Mars Pathfinder (MPF for short), allowing MGS to launch before MPF, but arrive at Mars after MPF had already landed. MGS is part of the Mars Surveyor Program, and carries a number of instruments which were part of the lost Mars Observer mission.
MGS has already returned data which helped scientists refine their models of the Martian atmosphere and prepare for the Mars '98 mission. Among the important new results from the mission is the definite confirmation of the presence of a Martian magnetosphere.