but perhaps they changed the text. It happens a lot on news websites.
There is a price mention in this article, but it's for the Mars Explorer. The article states Mars Explorer cost about $345 million. Without checking elsewhere for the numbers, that value sounds about right. Perhaps the original article you linked to was including the cost of Mars Explorer in with the Beagle 2. In that case, the $370 million value you mentioned sounds pretty close.
Without the severe time and money constraints of the current project, I wonder how difficult it would be to build several copies of an improved Beagle lander (getting critical details like the ones you've mentioned right this time) and sending them on a simplified bus to Mars. The bus could carry the propulsion, guidance, and TT&C systems for several Beagles (4 would be a good number) and aim them for different landing zones on Mars. It could then enter orbit to serve as a communications relay. Such a mission would probably cost no more than the current one (perhaps less since a lot of the R&D for the sensors has already been accomplished) and would have a greater chance of success. If more than one lander succeeded, it would increase the return substancially.
Space/Science » in reply to Defeat is an orphan...
I didn't see any mention of price in that article...
The whole thread (33 posts)
- An extremely brief announcement from the ESA regarding Beagle2
- In space, no one can hear you yelp. (n/t)
- Beagle 2 transmits a signal. Click here to hear it LIVE...
- You are nuts
- Enduring misery causes cancer. Laughter's the best medicine.
- You are nuts
- Kudos to ESA - Really!!!
- Defeat is an orphan...
- cnn.com: "British scientists have failed in their latest attempt to make contact with the Beagle 2 probe which was to have landed on Mars on Christmas Day."