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Next-Gen Mars Rover Mission Delayed 2 Years, To 2011

Posted by timothy on from the reschedule-your-vacations-please dept.

Riding with Robots writes "NASA announced today that the Mars Science Laboratory, the agency's next Mars rover mission, is now slated to launch in 2011 instead of next year. 'We've reached the point where we can not condense the schedule further without compromising vital testing,' said NASA's director for Mars exploration. The length of the delay is driven by the fact that the orbits of Earth and Mars only provide a favorable flight window every two years."

3 of 29 comments (clear)

  1. Silver Lining by Prysorra · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Looking back, one thing that scientists wish they had is the imaging technology of the 90's...or even now.....back when they first launched Voyager in the 70's. Heck, computers too.

    Now I'm NOT playing the "what if" game, but it helps keep our chins up when things look down.

    They now have 2 years to make it better, faster, more efficient, etc.

    Except cheaper. Too late lol.

    1. Re:Silver Lining by RabidMoose · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Good, fast, cheap. Pick two.

    2. Re:Silver Lining by clone53421 · · Score: 3, Insightful

      You're mistaking "fast" meaning performance (i.e. this falls under "good") with "fast" meaning development (and it's taken decades to develop computers as good as the ones we have today).

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.