Space & Astronomy

Next Mars rover set to launch in 2020

By T.K. Randall
July 15, 2013 ·  5 comments

Image Credit: NASA The new rover will be based primarily on the design of Curiosity and is tentatively set for a 2020 launch. By reusing the landing system and spare parts from the previous rover the new project is likely to cost around $1.5 billion. The mission will be aimed at determining if life ever existed on Mars and will even collect samples of rocks and soil for return to Earth so that they can be studied in detail.

One point of contention however is that the rover will not be looking for signs that life still exists on Mars today. Astrobiologists have expressed their annoyance at what they perceive to be another missed opportunity. "It is the same old depressing story of NASA vetoing any proposal to do biological experiments on Mars," said Paul Davies of Arizona State University. "I personally think this is absurd."[!gad]The new rover will be based primarily on the design of Curiosity and is tentatively set for a 2020 launch. By reusing the landing system and spare parts from the previous rover the new project is likely to cost around $1.5 billion. The mission will be aimed at determining if life ever existed on Mars and will even collect samples of rocks and soil for return to Earth so that they can be studied in detail.

One point of contention however is that the rover will not be looking for signs that life still exists on Mars today. Astrobiologists have expressed their annoyance at what they perceive to be another missed opportunity. "It is the same old depressing story of NASA vetoing any proposal to do biological experiments on Mars," said Paul Davies of Arizona State University. "I personally think this is absurd."

Source: Science Recorder | Comments (5)

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