Magnetic Properties Experiments on the Mars Polar Lander

Abstract

The Mars Polar Lander carries an instrument package called the Magnetic Properties Experiments. This package consists of one magnet array, one tip‐plate magnet, and three Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) magnets. The magnet array and the tip‐plate magnet are identical to those flown on Mars Pathfinder and will be passively exposed to airborne dust. The TEGA magnets are a new addition to the package designed to study actively sampled material collected from three different depths in the trench that will be dug by the robotic arm soil sampler.