QUESTION:
Since keeping the cost at a reasonable level was one of your prime mission
objectives, can you tell me what level of components (primarily
microcircuit, microprocessors, memories, etc) were used in the mission
electronics?

For example:  Were MIL-STD-38510 class S devices used, as has been required
for all earlier space vehicles, or did you change to class B or less,
ceramic packaged devices, or did you go all the way to plastic encapsulated
microcircuits (PEM's) with or without screening beyond standard commercial
practices?

ANSWER from Chris Salvo on August 20, 1997:
The parts in Pathfinder were a mixture of Class S and Class B, with some
exceptions (where commercial hardware was adapted for our use).  Class B was
the preferred part, but in some cases where assemblies were being inherited
wholesale, if the parts were S, we left them that way.
     
The key to the whole thing was testing.  I believe that intelligent choices
can be made to move away from Class S, and even Class B, if convincing track
record data can be gathered, and/or new testing can be done.
     
I do not believe any PEMs were used, although the rover folks may know
different.  If there were any, I think they would be in the rover.