News from Mars

An anonymous reader writes "While the Beagle 2 may have been gobbled up by Mars--Eater of Spacecraft, the main part of the ESA's recent Mars mission is doing well. The Mars Express Orbiter has sent back some amazing pictures of The Grand Canyon of Mars (Valles Marineris). Yes, this is the same gigantic geological feature that was missed by Mariner 4, 6, and 7 but finally found by Mariner 9. In other news, the Spirit rover is getting ready to grind the rock Adirondack (picture)."

Comments

Competition

[siskbc]

Why does every clipping have to mention how they are doing it "better" than Americans are.....

That's particularly difficult now, at a time when the American probe phoned home and the European one did not. Kind of sounds hollow and desperate.

Seems like the ESA has a serious case of American Penis Envy. Scratch that. The whole damn EU seems to have it.

Sounds as if Europe has decided to try to be a superpower again after 50 years of regional isolationism? Trying the "bigger, better" competition like the Soviets? Hopes it works out better for Europe.

Main part of ESA's mission?

[BigChigger]

I doubt it. That sounds like a little revisionism to me. BC

Re:Press release is kind of funny...

[devilsadvoc8]

Don't count Europe as a super power yet. With all of the infighting and France's "do as I say not as I do attitude", the EU just may break apart quite quickly. As long as the special interests hold sway over fiscal and economic policy the EU and all the benefits of a super political/economic power will evaporate