Sign in / up

back to article Martian lakes seen where NASA Curiosity rover WON'T BE GOING

The European Space Agency says its probe craft in orbit above Mars has seen strong evidence of ancient lakes and rivers - but at a location which WON'T be visited by NASA's nuclear-powered Curiosity rover, which will come in to land on the red planet on Monday. Orbital imagery of Martian craters. Credit: ESA Look! Wet as you …

COMMENTS

House rules Send corrections
This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. Fatman

    `miffed`

    Quote: It would seem that the ESA, in announcing Mars Express' amazing new discoveries just days before Curiosity comes in to land (the imagery was actually taken in April) may be indicating that it is a tiny bit miffed by the fact that the Holden/Eberswalde/Ladon region didn't get beyond the shortlist.

    I hate to be seen as a smug bastard, but you (the ESA) can send up your own probe and have a look-see, if you want. NASA probably won't mind.

    BTW, fingers crossed for a successful landing, for Mars has this appetite for eating spacecraft `for lunch`.

    3 4
    1. Richard 12 Silver badge
      Reply Icon
      Happy

      Re: `miffed`

      They are intending to, in the 2016 and 2018 missions.

      The 2018 mission is even hopinh to bring some stuff back!

      1 0
  2. Destroy All Monsters Silver badge
    Coat

    "HRSC orbit 10602"

    This sounds like some bank has really been blown sky-high this time.

    0 0
  3. Ammaross Danan
    Go

    "Why build one..."

    "...when you can build two for twice the price."

    So, they already have a rover design, launch and landing system figured out, and now experience with it. Why not just send up a second one? It seriously can't cost near as much as the first one since all the hard stuff is done.

    0 0
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "Why build one..."

      ESA's ExoMars is due to put a rover down on the Red Planet in 2016 with a Russian rover following in 2018. NASA cancelled all involvement in the project earlier this year so there are no further American landers planned at the moment.

      2 0
    2. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: "Why build one..."

      NASA's 2013 budget cut its support for the 2016 ESA ExoMars mission to divert money towards the James Webb Telescope which has gone horribly overbudget.

      0 0
    3. Darkwolf
      Reply Icon

      Re: "Why build one..."

      They do that all the time, but the second must be kept secret, and built by the Japanese subcontractors.

      2 0
  4. Winkypop Silver badge
    Thumb Up

    Mars must be looking really big about now

    Go, plucky, not-so-little, lander!

    1 0
  5. Anonymous Coward
    Anonymous Coward

    Did no one think...?

    That the reason they did not choose this place was because Martians are the ones who are pulling the strings at NASA and they don't want a 1 tonne SUV landing on their favourite dacha by the lake?

    How come "Anonymous cowards cannot choose their icon"!!??

    2 0
    1. Anonymous Coward
      Reply Icon
      Anonymous Coward

      Re: Did no one think...?

      "That the reason they did not choose this place was because Martians are the ones who are pulling the strings at NASA"

      Congratulations to you sir for not coming up with one of those half-arsed, self-doubting conspiracy theories, and going the whole mile instead. :)

      0 0
  6. John Savard

    Eggs and baskets

    Yes, water and life are the most important questions about Mars.

    But the Gale crater will make available information about a large stretch of Mars' geological history. So instead of just answering one question - if the water really was there - it will answer many questions. So it's by far the safer bet for a worthwhile scientific return.

    0 0
This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like