After the successes gained from the grand missions started in the 1970s, scientists are again pushing the limits of exploration by laying the groundwork for a possible permanent presence on Mars and by going to as yet unexplored bodies in our solar system. To fit these goals, a new generation of smaller interplanetary spacecraft is being created.

Stardust is on its way to dash through a comet's coma and bring a sample back to Earth. Genesis, now gathering particles of the solar wind, will return them to Earth in 2004. Deep Impact will launch that year to see what's beneath the surface of a comet nucleus. A mission named Dawn is slated to begin orbiting one asteroid in 2010, then move to another one by 2014. Deep Space 1, a technology-demonstration mission using solar-powered ion propulsion has already returned the best-yet views of a comet's nucleus.

Mars remains the target for the most intensive series of missions. In 1997, Mars Pathfinder was truly the first in this breed of new generation missions when it landed on Mars and released a breadbox-size rover. Mars Global Surveyor began an orbital examination of the red planet that has lasted more than four years. Mars Odyssey reached orbit in 2001 and is identifying surface and near-surface materials. Mars rovers and an orbiter with advanced capabilities have launch-pad appointments in 2003 and 2005.

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