Difficult decisions ahead on Mars {shortage of US $$} (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

By Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, BBC News

The joint Mars exploration envisioned by the US and Europe is set for an overhaul, following an announcement by the Americans that their part of the budget is critically short of funds.

Nasa and Esa had agreed to send two rovers to the Red Planet in 2018.

In Europe's case, this vehicle is already designed and about to be built.

But a new report from the US National Research Council says the probable $3.5bn (£2.2bn) cost of the American side of the mission is $1bn too high.

The "planetary decadal survey" - which is only an advisory document at this stage - recommends the effort be scaled back or postponed indefinitely.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-12676289




Face it -- we're now the poor folks on the block. But nice to know that Wall Street banksters are living large off the money they stole.

[Better Believe It]

1. Let's abandon the useless "Space Station" and use those funds for the Mars project

If not, it will be China that leads the peaceful exploration of space, including Mars, certainly not the United States.

The 21st Century belongs to China. The U.S. is a has-been nation in rapid decline due to the greed and reactionary policies of its ruling class and their political whores in Washington.

[phantom power]

2. We could go to Mars for the cost of a month or two of Endless War(tm)

I think it's hilarious when people go on and on about how a hundred billion or two is such an outrageous price tag for a NASA program. We light that much money on fire every four weeks or so for our Splendid Middle Eastern Wars.