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One of the four major elements of the Mars Pathfinder continues preflight preparations in KSC's Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility-2 (SAEF-2). The cruise stage -- shown here mounted inside a support assembly -- will carry the Mars Pathfinder lander on a direct trajectory to Mars. The Pathfinder lander, encased in a protective aeroshell, still must be attached to the cruise stage. The fourth major element of the Mars Pathfinder is the small rover that will be located inside the lander. After a six to seven month journey the Mars Pathfinder lander will descend directly to the Martian surface without first going into orbit around the planet. Launch of the Mars Pathfinder is set for Dec. 2 aboard a Delta II expendable launch vehicle.