Two missions are currently on their long journey to Mars.

On December 3, 1998, the Mars Climate Orbiter was launched, followed in early January 1999 with the launch of the Mars Polar Lander.

The Polar Lander will study soil near the edge of the Mars' south polar cap. The Climate Orbiter will study the intricate workings of the Martian atmosphere.

Those two missions will be followed by the Mars Surveyor 2001 Orbiter and Lander missions. The Mars 2001 Lander will carry a CD-ROM with the names of thousands of children who have sent their names to NASA, all the way to the Martian surface!