Posted by tourdemars to Mars Polar Lander at April 1, 2001 12:00 PM

The $297-million Mars Odyssey mission, crucial for NASA's recovery from back-to-back Mars flight losses, is set for liftoff this week on a "do-or-die" mission to validate reforms in the wake of the failures. The Odyssey orbiter will search for "Martian oases" as targets for future U.S./European landers.