Russians On Moon, Russians on Moon Options

[GravityWaves]

China and Russia are planning a joint mission to Mars that will bring back samples to earth and land on one of the red planet's tiny moons, state media quoted a Chinese scientist as saying Wednesday. Ye Peijian, of the Chinese Research Institute of Space Technology, made the announcement at a forum on the nation's space technology development, Xinhua news agency said.
http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/China_And...o_Mars_999.html
':mars:' 'smid_10'
Ye said Russia will launch the spacecraft in 2009 and it will carry China-made survey equipment. The mission will collect samples on Mars and the planet's nearest moon, according to Xinhua.

[Big_Gazza]

That must be the Phobos grunt mission, though I was not aware that China was involved.

The article is misleading as the sample return is only from Phobos, not Mars as it suggests. Maybe this is just an example of shoddy writing or poor journalism.

[tedstryk]

That must be the Phobos grunt mission, though I was not aware that China was involved.

The article is misleading as the sample return is only from Phobos, not Mars as it suggests. Maybe this is just an example of shoddy writing or poor journalism.

Russia agreed to add a small, ride-along Chinese orbiter. The mission may also carry the Russian/Finnish MetNet precursor mission. The "may" refers to the fact that the MetNet landers will undergo drop tests this spring or summer. Inclusion in Phobos-Grunt hinges on the tests being successful.

[edstrick]

.... hinges on the tests being successful."

That's opposed to the usual " fly it, crater it, test it " method?