The desire to explore has really always been a part of the American spirit and Mars is a new frontier. Its a place where you could someday send astronauts to do that kind of exploration.

I'm sure the U.S. would like to have a presence there.

The instruments that are arriving (in 2003) have influenced our selections. We're trying to complement, not duplicate them.

It's a weather satellite, it's a geological surveyor, it's a pathfinder for future missions.

It's just going to knock your socks off when we get these instruments opened up at Mars.

Your team practices and you prepare, but you never know what will happen on game day.

These are some of the highest regions of the planet because they sit on top of southern hemisphere terrain, which is higher than corresponding terrain in the north.

Every time we have increased our ability to resolve detail on the planet, we see new things, and we expect new surprises.

Every time we look closer, we see surprising new things.

Every time we look with increased resolution, Mars has said, 'Here's something you didn't expect. You don't understand me yet.' We're sure to find surprises.