You want a car or truck comparison. Then set a realistic objective. Their trying to climb a rough long seep mountain road...in a Geo Metro and a Jeep... The Metro might make it. But, I'm not willing to bet on it.
I'm a US citizen! The money spend on MER is mine as much as it is yours! If you don't like how much is spend at NASA or how much deficit we carry I suggest you try to kick Bush out of the White House in 2004!
The Rovers will be worth the money as far as I'm concerned. If Beagle II does land successfully then I will be very happy as I've always hoped to lower the Bar. I think a very limited science Solar Montgolfier Balloon Mission could be flown for something under 35 million including launch and data collection throughout the mission.
The gondola would be built in much the same way an AMSAT satellite is, but with much more testing... 70 to 80 percent success is a failure at Mars. Look at Nozomi!
If the Canadians ever launch CRAFTIor if AMSAT_DL launch there Phase 5 D(Mars Comms Satellite) we will see how this sort of cheaper than cheap mission does...
--Chris Vancil
Space/Science » in reply to A Toyota's no Lamborghini, but both get you there on time...
No Rich. Apples and Oranges!
The whole thread (28 posts)
- Great Googly Moogly, The Europeans have some splainin' to do.
- C'mon guys...ease up a bit.
- The ENTIRE Mars Express mission will cost around $353 million. NASA's redundant twin rovers: OVER $800 million.
- One of the ways Mars Express will save money...
- Wait until AFTER Mars Express has successfully orbited Mars and ....
- Japan's Nozomi Mars Mission cost just $86 million
- Good thing Space Daily isn't running the show
- When ESA offers competitive prizes (like DARPA), they'll achieve more
- re: Great Googly Moogly, The Europeans have some splainin' to do.