[X] My Assistant

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

http://www.marstoday.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=20314

I also have inside word that at least one proposal will involve a Phoenix-type lander with a mini-rover, although this is hardly surprising -- and whether they can fit such a craft convincingly inside even the newly raised Scout cost cap if they have to build the lander from scratch is open to question.

[djellison]

I struggle to imagine that the physical hardware carried over from Mars '01 to Phoenix is actually that much of a saving to the budget - particularly given the huge ammount of testing and review it's undergone. The savings to be had if you build-from-print for another similar lander would probably mean it's doable under a scout budget given any leasons learnt from the Phoenix mission - Of course, would you want to give a 'yes' to another '01 platform mission without seing Phoenix work first?

'01 lander with a microrover....it's the APEX mission all over again.

Doug