A renewed attempt to contact silent Mars Polar Lander

(Pasadena, California-AP) -- They had given up -- but now NASA scientists say they're making another attempt to contact the Mars<br>Polar Lander.<br><br>That's because they noticed a very weak

Tuesday, January 25th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Pasadena, California-AP) -- They had given up -- but now NASA scientists say they're making another attempt to contact the Mars
Polar Lander.

That's because they noticed a very weak radio signal that could have come from the missing probe.

The lander was last heard from December third as it was about to enter the Martian atmosphere. It was beginning a 90-day mission to study Mars' climate, and probe for frozen water beneath the surface.

The search officially ended January 17th, but a review of data collected by a Stanford University radio antenna showed it might
have heard something from the 165 (m) million-dollar probe.

Just to be sure, NASA has again beamed commands toward Mars, ordering the lander to answer on Wednesday.

The spacecraft's project manager says the test is a long-shot but one that needs to be done.