title: Mars global surveyor mission: overview and status.
abstract: The Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft achieved a 45-hour elliptical orbit at Mars on 11 September 1997 after an 11-month cruise from Earth. The mission is acquiring high-quality global observations of the martian surface and atmosphere and of its magnetic and gravitational fields. These observations will continue for one martian year.
authors.affiliation: California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, 91125, USA.
authors.forename: A L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Albee
authors.forename: F D
authors.initials: FD
authors.lastname: Palluconi
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Arvidson
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D001274:Atmospheric Pressure; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D006112:Gravitation; D008280:Magnetics; D018535:Mars; D018531:Spacecraft