Okay. There's no question that the landing system and instrument suite on MPL need to be tested. But is now the right time to launch MPL, or could the money be better spent right now launching another MER to Mars?
The data coming in from Mars is just starting to be analyzed, and I don't think that at the current time we know enough about Mars to pick out an optimal landing site for MPL.
On the other hand, we know that the rovers work extremely well and have a very good science yield. We already have a good list of back-up sites, and the new data is providing an assortment of very interesting locations that we could at least land within range of. With MPL, there is no mobility, and the landing navigation is going to have to be exact.
You pays your money, you takes your choice, but right now I myself would much rather have another rover on Mars, and save the MPL until an optimal site for landing it can be chosen.
Is it the right time to launch Mars Polar Lander?
The whole thread (23 posts)
- Is it the right time to launch Mars Polar Lander?
- Bi-POLAR LANDER..launch or NOT!
- Yes - because...
- it IS the right time to launch Phoenix.
- re: Sure...