拓荒者號攜帶了三種不同的科學儀器用來調查火星土壤。著陸器在延伸的桿子上裝設了立體照相機與空間性濾鏡,稱為火星拓荒者成像儀 (IMP,Imager for Mars Pathfinder)[7][8],和大氣結構儀/氣象學包 (ASI/MET,Atmospheric Structure Instrument/Meteorology Package)[9],組成一個火星氣象站,收集有關壓力、溫度和風的資料。MET的結構包括安裝在桿上不同高度的三個風向袋,最高的一個高度約為1米 (碼),而測量到的風通常都來自西方[10]。
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