QUESTION:
I would like to ask if the communications problem might be due to
condensation (from all the fog and low temperatures) on the antennas on
Mars. Do you think that reorientation of some reflective surfaces to heat
the antennas might improve the signal?

ANSWER from Guy Beutelschies on July 23, 1997:
Good idea, but there is not enough water in the atmosphere for there to be
enough condensation to cause this problem.  Any moisture that was present on
our hardware would have outgassed during cruise and the descent to the
surface.  In addition, we actually found that communication was better in
the morning when the antenna was colder.  Since the rover has moved off the
petal, the commnication's link has functioned as expected.