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In the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 (SAEF-2), the small rover for the Mars Pathfinder mission has been unpacked from its shipping container and is undergoing inspections. Called Sojourner, this compact, semi-autonomous six-wheeler will become the first vehicle to traverse the surface of Mars. Weighing just 22 pounds (10 kilograms) it will travel to the Red Planet inside the Mars Pathfinder lander. When fully deployed, the rover reaches about 11 inches (280 millimeters) in height, and is about 25 inches (630 mm) long by about 19 inches (480 mm) wide. Sojourner is expected to explore the Martian surface for a minimum of seven days, collecting data about soil and rock composition, and transmitting images of the terrain as well as of the lander itself. Micro-rover technology also will be demonstrated by the solar-powered Sojourner. The Mars Pathfinder is scheduled for liftoff aboard a Delta II expendable launch vehicle at the beginning of a 24-day launch period opening Dec. 2.