However "capable" the 34 meter dishes are, that "capability" is of little value if you can't use it.

Mars Express and 2 Mars rovers are coming up, and NASA really needs to look at the use of European, Japanese, Ukrainian, Russian, and other antennas, and shifting off as much signal as possible, whatever the source, i.l. from whatever spacecraft or manned operation.

I understand that there are various technical restraints for each different application, but each of these need to be looked at very closely.

I'll have to differ with you, as to the importqance of this, as a 3 to 4 fold increase in data from MGS would indeed be a great step.

ep