Editing Aerobot (section)

=== Mars ===
JPL's MABVAP technology experiments were intended to lead to an actual Mars aerobot mission, named MABTEX, for "Mars Aerobot Technology Experiment". As its name implies, MABTEX was primarily intended to be an operational technology experiment as a precursor to a more ambitious efforts. MABTEX was envisioned as a small [[superpressure balloon]], carried to Mars on a "microprobe" weighing no more than {{convert|40|kg|lb}}. Once inserted, the operational balloon would have a total mass of no more than {{convert|10|kg|lb}} and would remain operational for a week. The small gondola would have navigational and control electronics, along with a [[stereo imaging]] system, as well as a [[spectrometer]] and [[magnetometer]].

Plans envisioned a follow-on to MABTEX as a much more sophisticated aerobot named MGA, for "Mars Geoscience Aerobot". Design concepts for MGA envisioned a superpressure balloon system very much like that of MABTEX, but much larger. MGA would carry a payload ten times larger than that of MABTEX, and would remain aloft for up to three months, circling Mars more than 25&nbsp;times and covering over {{convert|500000|km|mi}}. The payload would include sophisticated equipment, such as an ultrahigh resolution stereo imager, along with oblique imaging capabilities; a [[radar]] sounder to search for [[subsurface water]]; an [[infrared spectroscopy]] system to search for important minerals; a magnetometer; and weather and atmospheric instruments. MABTEX might be followed in turn by a small solar-powered blimp named MASEPA, for "Mars Solar Electric Propelled Aerobot".