Mars Project Faces Technical Problems
February 28, 2008 By ALICIA CHANG, AP Science Writer
This undated artist drawing released by NASA shows the Mars Science Laboratory, a mobile robot for investigating Mars' past or present ability to sustain microbial life. The mission to land a nuclear-powered, next-generation rover on Mars is facing development problems and ballooning costs that could threaten its scheduled launch next year. NASA Administrator Michael Griffin told a congressional hearing this month that engineers had to redesign the heat shield on the Mars Science Laboratory after tests showed the protective layer would not survive entry through the Martian atmosphere. (AP Photo/NASA)
(AP) -- NASA's flagship mission to land a nuclear-powered, next-generation rover on Mars is facing development problems and ballooning costs that could threaten its scheduled launch next year.
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Feb 28, 2008
Rank: 2.5 / 5 (2)
Feb 29, 2008
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To the idiot Howard McCurdy: have you looked up what it would cost to send humans to mars equipped with the same tools as this rover? I've seen decent estimates in the 10 trillion dollar range. That's for a 1.5 year stay, and this rover will probably last longer than that.
10^13 >>>>>> 1.8*10^9
Moron. It's an expensive mission because it is huge (9 feet across!), and it has a lot of new equipment. Big R&D costs. And that guy works on public policy. Good to know we are so well represented.
Mar 02, 2008
Rank: 1 / 5 (1)
One person has unveiled a way of saving billions and getting the US to Mars faster. The technology is exotic in its approach.
http://nlspropulsion.net
Mar 02, 2008
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