You've probably heard about the Mars Pathfinder probe. Once it lands on the red planet, pathfinder will release the sojourner rover, a little laboratory on wheels. Sojourner will cruise about the Martian surface performing experiments. It turns out that sojourner and pathfinder will communicate using two standard, off-the-shelf 9600-baud radio modems. According to jet propulsion laboratory program manager Donna Shirley, the modem manufacturer warned jpl that sending the modem to mars would void the warrantee.

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