Mission officials conceded yesterday that they had run out of ideas for trying to restore communications with the lost Mars Observer.

And in 1993, the $1 billion Mars Observer failed mysteriously just as it approached the planet.

The only other approved project is Mars Observer, a spacecraft being built for launching in 1992.

That circumstance held out the hope that Mars Observer might have called home late yesterday afternoon.

In the spring of 1992, with launch only months away, the camera was installed on the Mars Observer.

The last American mission, the failed Mars Observer, cost $1 billion.

Of course, we do not know what wonders Mars Observer would have uncovered.

The apparent failure of the Mars Observer could put the Government in the recycling business.

Seven years ago, Mars Observer had a team of more than 200.

On the drawing boards is an even more comprehensive program of exploration to follow Mars Observer.