Potential Landing Sites for EU Mars Rover Selected

kfz versicherung writes "In 2013 the European Space Agency will launch its mission to Mars - ExoMars. The multi-million-euro mission calls for a rover weighing just over 200kg that can trundle over the martian soil in search of past and present life. Now prime landing spots have been selected. The list includes two sites at Meridiani Planum, the flat expanse near Mars' equator where Nasa's Opportunity found possible evidence for an ancient sea. Early in Earth's history, all the primordial biochemistry took place in phyllosilicates, some kind of mineral that is a good matrix for preserving organic matter. Scientists are guessing that a similar site is the best place to start looking for fossil life on the Red Planet."

Comments

European Rover

[Anonymous Coward]

Why don't we just pick the site that will have the most interesting impact crater when this thing inevitably crashes in to a million expensive peices?

I vote that the Europeans attempt to crash in to an American rover. Maby then it will have an impact.

Re:Maybe

[Harmonious Botch]

Hi-five? No, they will mug the Russian rover for batteries and spare parts.

Fate of Beagle 2

[R2.0]

I'm telling ya', when we do finally get there we are going to find Beagle 2 with no wheels, the antenna busted off (used to smash open the camera lenses), and strange graffiti that translates to "All your rover are belong to us!" in Martian.

Re:why not lots of rovers ?

[fotoguzzi]

Do you mean like a beowulf cluster of rovers?