Week of September 9, 1996
The "Sojourner" rover successfully completed its first series of tests after arrival at the Cape. These tests consisted of extensive health checks (i.e., all actuators and sensors tested), a functional test with the rover's science instrument (the APXS - alpha, proton, and x-ray spectrometer) and a communication test with an initial configuration of the Mars Pathfinder lander. Once these tests were completed, the rover was stowed on the lander's rover petal along with the exit ramps. All components were tied down in preparation for petal attachment to the lander and petal closing later this month. Additional communication checks are planned with the lander prior to petal closing as the lander completes its reassembly.