MSL schedule delay? |
MSL schedule delay? |
Sep 9 2008, 08:10 PM
Post
#1
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 706 Joined: 22-April 05 Member No.: 351 |
The most recent Aviation Week and Space Technology (9/8) has the following tidbit in a piece on NASA schedule delays:
"On the robotoic front, the testing schedule for a critical instrument for the Mars Science Laboratory -- dubbed SAM for Sample Analysis at Mars -- may delay launch of the advanced rover from its 2009 planetary window into 2011." -------------------- |
|
|
Oct 5 2008, 09:01 PM
Post
#2
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 706 Joined: 22-April 05 Member No.: 351 |
I did more research on the enhanced ExoMars, and with the larger vehicle and budget, the payload seems reasonable. However, I have no way of assessing how technically risky it is, although MSL's problems are not encouraging.
Here is a link to a much longer Aviation Week article on the Italian funding issues: http://www.aviationweek.com/aw/generic/sto...%20from%20Italy -------------------- |
|
|
Oct 5 2008, 09:38 PM
Post
#3
|
|
Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 8-February 04 From: Arabia Terra Member No.: 12 |
All very depressing stuff. I get the sense the US Mars program will have a big gap opening up in front of it soon. Maybe as big as the gap between the launch of Viking and the launch of the unsuccessful Mars Observer. We may be approaching the end of the second 'golden age of Mars'; Mars Pathfinder to MAVEN. The first age being Mariner 4 to Viking.
|
|
|
Lo-Fi Version | Time is now: 30th April 2024 - 04:25 PM |
RULES AND GUIDELINES Please read the Forum Rules and Guidelines before posting. IMAGE COPYRIGHT |
OPINIONS AND MODERATION Opinions expressed on UnmannedSpaceflight.com are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of UnmannedSpaceflight.com or The Planetary Society. The all-volunteer UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderation team is wholly independent of The Planetary Society. The Planetary Society has no influence over decisions made by the UnmannedSpaceflight.com moderators. |
SUPPORT THE FORUM Unmannedspaceflight.com is funded by the Planetary Society. Please consider supporting our work and many other projects by donating to the Society or becoming a member. |