Probe

The Probe is the first exploration vehicle that the player can unlock in Take On Mars. Only costing 50K, it is the cheapest chassis in the game but the low price comes with very low flexibility, making the Probe only suitable for early exploration or highly specific missions.

Description
The Probe body sports a grey cylinder with a tower on top mounted with a cluster of retro-rockets. These are used during the landing sequence and the only source of propulsion the probe has. The probe is usually capable of getting an Exploration goal complete, but not much else. If the mission is specific enough, its single camera mount may be used. Due to its pointed bottom, the probe almost always tips over upon landing. Sometimes the probe will roll if it lands on sloping terrain.

Descent Sequence
The Probe has a short and simple descent sequence. It begins by freefalling until it is close to the surface. At that point it will fire the rockets on its tower, slowing the Probe. Upon landing, the Probe will almost always tip over. It cannot change its direction to zero in on a target. It does not require research in automatic landing programs due to its extremely simple landing sequence.

Science capabilities
The usefulness of the Probe is mainly for basic Exploration and quick identification of science targets to study further in later missions. However, most early missions feature Exploration as the only major goal so the Probe is a good and cheap choice until you get the Small Lander, which outclasses it in every way. The probe also works in missions where the only goals are Exploration and using the Environmental Analysis Station, which has a large area to experiment in.

Outfitting
The Probe has 2 internal and 1 external hardpoints. It can fit one of each of the following: "Note, this section is not yet complete"Slot #1 - External utility slot: Slot #2 - Internal power slot: Slot #3 - Internal camera slot:
 * Low-Gain Antenna
 * Environmental Analysis Station
 * Environmental Monitoring Station
 * Basic Battery
 * Chemical Battery
 * Cycloramic Tele-Focus Camera
 * Cycloramic Wide-Angle Camera
 * Basic Imager Tele-Focus
 * Basic Imager Wide-Angle