Mars Express vs. Mars Rovers

[Larspeart]

So, who is going to 'win', or will both fail in their objectives? Which of the two is/will bring more to the fields of science (and what is now pseudoscience) after they have both completed their missions?

I love the fact that the Beagle2 is going for the 'home run' approach, where they will either fail to find anything of import, or will indeed find water and/or organic material/life. Still, it is a HUGE long-shot that they are betting on.

I believe the mars Rovers will have better luck in attaining their more conservative goal of determining if there was water on mars at all in any recent time period.

Thoughts? Opinions? flames?

 

[Jon_in_london]

Im not being anti-american here but I like beagle2 because its not american. I just think its good that the rest of the world is finally stepping up...........

 

[Captain_Snort]

I did like the comment by Paul Merton on last weeks 'Have I got news for you' (UK newsbased satire TV show) in answer to the question 'How will we know its arrived?'

'We will loose all communication with it'

 

[DanishDynamite]

Im not being anti-american here but I like beagle2 because its not american. I just think its good that the rest of the world is finally stepping up...........

Just a comment. The Soviet Union more than "stepped up" for many years.

In regard to Larspeart's question, I hope they all make it. I'm glad that there is some "competition" though, as this will tend to make politicians more likely to allocate funds.

I read a while back that the Chinese had a plan for establishing a Moon base. I hope it is true. That would really fire things up.

 

[JeffU]

Maybe it'll be enough to get America back to the moon again.

I'm not saying that we have exclusive rights to it,, but I am very disappointed with the current state of our space program.

 

[plindboe]

Just a comment. The Soviet Union more than "stepped up" for many years.

I agree. The Americans might have won the moon race(Considering it were real ), but USSR is behind most of the major advances that have been made in space.

Peter

 

[King of the Americas]

I must echo JeffU's sentiments...

...I am VERY disappointed in America's Space Program.

We got tot he moon, and then we didn't just slam on the breaks, we put it in reverse and left it in neutral as we stayed in orbit for the past several decades!

Come on let's GO already.

So who's building the first star ship!?

---

"We will lose all communication with it."

THAT's funny.

I am waiting for one of them to show pictures of something shooting at it, until it explodes. That'll perk everyone's ears up.