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Group Plans to Bring Martian Sample to Earth

sm62704 (mcgrew) writes "New Scientist has a story about IMARS (the International Mars Architecture for Return Samples) planning to bring samples of Martian soil to earth. The robotic mission would be a needed precursor to manned trips to the red planet. Also, international cooperation is necessary since the US has already nixed bankrolling manned Mars missions."

3 of 84 comments (clear)

  1. Other worth subjects by Kranfer · · Score: 3, Funny

    While mars is a worthy subject of return samples, I also believe that more return samples from coments/asteroids would be of more value for figuing out if life is out there. As we all know from previous /. articles, bacteria can survive on space craft, and we are worried about bringing such life to places like mars. However I think Europia and Io would be awesome places to check out for life. But thats just me... if it were up to me, I would say do what the Governor of CA said on the Howard Stern Show a few weeks ago... get a bunch of rocket engines and move the earth a few inches more away from the sun to get rid of global warming... but hey what do I know?

    --
    -- Josh
    "Whoopie! Man, that may have been a small one for Neil, but that's a long one for me!" - Pete Conrad
  2. Send a Mars Rover and pieces to make a catapult by Thanshin · · Score: 4, Funny

    With about 0.35g, they may just send a Mars Rover with a mechanical arm and also send pieces to build a catapult. In six months or so, the rover builds the catapult and uses it to throw a piece of ground back.

    The only problem could be the rover exceeding his expected lifetime thirteen times and burying us in Mars pieces.

  3. ahem by Martian_Kyo · · Score: 3, Funny

    I for one welcome our new earthling overlords