P2K: What is the most important aspect of the mission? Is it the hardware... is it the software... is it the people? What is the most important part of the mission?

Deborah Bass: I would say it is the synergy that has developed by each of those things. We have created something complex that is greater than the sum of its parts. By getting the team... the hardware... the software all to work together.

P2K: When you think about what is going to be happening here come January, what are you most worried about?

Deborah Bass: Getting to the surface safely. I think that is probably the most challenging aspect of our job. And then the second most challenging aspect is getting safely off the lander. And actually we are going to take quite a while to do that. We are going to take a number of days to make sure that everything works properly and that we go slowly and carefully. And I think that's a good thing. I think that's the right approach.