Images Dated 7th September 1998

Landing of Martian subsurface probe

Landing of Martian subsurface probe. Artwork of one of the Deep Space 2 Mars microprobes landing on the surface of Mars. These probes were attached to the Mars Polar Lander that entered the Martian atmosphere on 3 December 1999. Communication was lost at this point, and no further signals have been received. The probes were designed to free- fall into the Martian soil at around 200 metres per second. The impact would have driven the probes about 2 metres into the soil. The probes consisted of an upper part, which was intended to relay information to Earth, connected by flex to the bullet-shaped probe itself. The probes were designed to sample the soil and take physical readings such as temperature, and look for signs of frozen water. It is not known what caused the mission to fail

© DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Martian subsurface probe

Martian subsurface probe. Artwork of one of the Deep Space 2 Mars microprobes on the surface of Mars. These probes were attached to the Mars Polar Lander that entered the Martian atmosphere on 3 December 1999. Communication was lost at this point, and no further signals have been received. The probes were designed to free-fall into the Martian soil at around 200 metres per second. The impact would have driven the probes about 2 metres into the soil. The probes consisted of an upper part, which was intended to relay information to Earth, connected by flex to the bullet-shaped probe itself. The probes were designed to sample the soil and take physical readings such as temperature, and look for signs of frozen water. It is not known what caused the mission to fail

© DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Zimbabwe-Summit-Monkey

A young baboon sits on a welcoming billboard on the entrance to the resort town of Victoria falls 06 September. The town is hosting a summit on the current crisis in the great lakes region. The summit, starting tomorrow, will see heads of state and foreign ministers from across central and southern Africa try to beat out a resolution to the Tutsi-led rebellion against Democratic Rebublic of Congo's Laurent Desire Kabila. / AFP PHOTO / ODD ANDERSEN

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