ExoMars cooperation between Nasa and Esa near collapse

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

6 February 2012 Last updated at 14:56 GMT

ExoMars cooperation between Nasa and Esa near collapse

By Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent, BBC News

The American space agency looks set to pull the plug on its joint missions to Mars with the European Space Agency.

Nasa has told Esa it is now highly unlikely it will be able to contribute to the endeavours, which envision an orbiting satellite and a big roving robot being sent to the Red Planet.

The US has yet to make a formal statement on the matter but budget woes are thought to lie behind its decision.

Europe is now banking on a Russian partnership to keep the missions alive.

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Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-16906740

[krispos42]

1. Wall Street executive pay is 8x NASA's budget.

So, guess which one we cut.

[Gore1FL]

2. When we landed on the moon, there were two space-faring nations

In 2012, there are still two. Neither is the United States.

[LongTomH]

3. One of the wondrous 'benefits' that austerity has brought to the US.

We've got billion dollar tax cuts for the mega-rich and our science is in a dark age.

By the way, I'm posting the BBC article to my Facebook page; I recommend that DUers do likewise.