MARS-96 . ROBOTIC SPACECRAFT MISSION TO MARS. ... The main scientific objectives of this mission are to investigate the evolution of Mars, that is, of its atmosphere, its surface, and its interior. ... abundance of minor components in the atmosphere (H2O, CO, O3 , etc), their variation and vertical distribution, and searches for regions with higher humidity; . ... Plasma: . ... the 3D distribution function; the ion and energy composition of plasma (near Mars and during interplanetary cruise); . ...