Mission Objectives Overview  ===========================    The primary objective of the Pathfinder Project was to develop and    deliver a single flight system successfully to the Martian surface.    This would demonstrate the entry, descent, and landing design by    successfully acquiring and returning EDL engineering data and a    panoramic image of the Martian surface.  The project had a number of    secondary programmatic, engineering, science, and technology    objectives which are listed below:     Programmatic Objectives     - Complete the development phase within a cost cap of $171M (real      year) (excluding the rover)    - Complete the mission operations and data analysis phase within a      cost cap of $14M (real year) (excluding the rover)    - Complete the development and operations of the rover within a cost      cap of $25M (real year)    - Establish management approaches and practices applicable for fixed      price, quick reaction, low cost projects.     Engineering Objectives     - Demonstrate simple, reliable, low cost cruise, entry, descent, and      landing systems.    - Monitor and evaluate lander performance in the Martian      environment.    - Provide significant inheritance to future Mars lander missions.    - Demonstrate the use of a rover surface vehicle as an instrument      deployment and operation mechanism.     Science Objectives     - Obtain data on the structure of the Martian atmosphere along the      entry and descent trajectory.    - Characterize the landing site surface geology and morphology at      sub-meter scale.    - Monitor meteorological conditions at the landing site.    - Investigate the elemental composition of rocks and surface      materials at the landing site.    - Constrain models of the interior of Mars by determining its rate      of precession.     Technology Objectives     - Investigate Mars' terrain feature classes.    - Investigate basic Martian soil mechanics parameters.    - Assess the performance of dead reckoning navigation sensors and      path reconstruction capabilities.    - Investigate the sinkage of rover wheels in Martian soil.    - Acquire all measurable rover engineering parameters during surface      operations.    - Monitor rover thermal behavior during surface operations.    - Assess performance of the rover imaging sensors.    - Investigate the effectiveness of UHF communications links on Mars.    - Measure the abrasive qualities of Martian soil and dust.    - Assess the adherence of Martian dust to surfaces.