MaDeR
24-August-2007, 04:11 PM
I read lately about Mars Scout class missions for 2011. And I wonder why SCIM did not cut. For me it is no-brainer - simple sample return mission for fraction of cost of full-fledged MSR. And almost as good: not rocks, but air and Martian dust.
This proposition already lost once (for 2007 opportunity): Phoenix kills it.
Sooo... why not? :confused: Is "study of the current rate of atmospheric loss" proposed by actual finalist (MAVEN) really more important that sample return? Or even exploration of Martian poles?
SCIM: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002AGUSM.P51A..11L
This proposition already lost once (for 2007 opportunity): Phoenix kills it.
Sooo... why not? :confused: Is "study of the current rate of atmospheric loss" proposed by actual finalist (MAVEN) really more important that sample return? Or even exploration of Martian poles?
SCIM: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2002AGUSM.P51A..11L