This is an artist's depiction of the Mars Polar Lander if it had reached the surface.
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Courtesy of NASA
NASA Needs to Change Mars Program
News story originally written on March 29, 2000
A panel of scientists studied the problems that NASA is having. It found that the Mars program needs to be changed. Here are some of the problems they found.
- There isn't enough money.
- The Polar Lander was designed wrong
- NASA scientists work too much
The scientists also say the Polar Lander crashed into the surface of Mars. A computer error made the probe think it had landed when it was still in the air. It shut off the engines and crashed.
NASA is happy the panel found the problems. It is making changes, and the Mars Program will continue.
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