QUESTION:
I've read the craft during the cruise en route to Mars will be rotating. If
that's the case, how does the signal keep in touch between earth and the
spinning craft's antennae without losing contact with each spacecraft
revolution? In other words, how does the antenna point back steady enough to
earth to send/receive signals if it's rotating?

ANSWER from David Dubov:
On the way to Mars, the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft spins like a child's toy
top. Visualizing a child's top, you will note that the spin axis of the top
always points in the same direction (at the ground) no matter how fast you
spin the top. Our Mars Pathfinder communications antenna, a simple microwave
horn transmitting at 8 GHz, is located very close to the spin axis of the
spacecraft. We keep the spin axis of the spacecraft pointed at Earth, and
hence the antenna is always in view!