ESA and NASA Establish a Joint Mars Exploration Initiative

Matt_dk sends in a Spacefellowship article: "The ESA Director of Science and Robotic Exploration, David Southwood, met NASA's Associate Administrator for Science, Ed Weiler, in Plymouth, UK, to establish a way for a progressive programme for exploration of the Red Planet. The outcome of the bilateral meeting was an agreement to create a Mars Exploration Joint Initiative (MEJI) that will provide a framework for the two agencies to define and implement their scientific, programmatic and technological goals at Mars."

Comments

I don't get it

[Anonymous Coward]

Can someone just put this into a car analogy for me? I'm not really sure what this MEJI is supposed to do. What is it used for?

Re:I don't get it

[tnok85]

Basically, imagine that NASA is an inefficient huge gas guzzler - say, a Hummer.

Imagine that ESA is a small fleet of more gas efficient but boring compact cars - say, a Saab representing Sweden, a Volvo representing Germany, a Fiat representing Italy... you get the idea. Let's say there's about 11 cars, plus a bicycle from Canada I guess.

Now, somehow stuff all those cars into the Hummer, put a rocket on it, and launch it to Mars.

Re:I don't get it

[ocularDeathRay]

in Soviet Russia, Mars visits you!

Re:I don't get it

[master5o1]

Hey, we all know that European cars are better than American cars. Just look at Audi versus Ford.

So did they finally decide...

[tokyoahead]

...on cm vs inches?

Re:What happened?

[Amiga Trombone]

Now if you consider the fact that we have no TRUE enemies among the countries capable of a useful mars mission, you will realize that COOPERATION is what will drive the next great exploration of the solar system.

I might find that a little more credible if that wasn't the same song and dance we heard when we got sold the ISS as an alternative to exploring space autonomously. So far, cooperation has done for space exploration what icebergs did for the Titanic.

Re:All I forsee is confusion.

[Patrik_AKA_RedX]

The US uses Imperial while most of the world uses Metric

All the fault of the Stonecutters...

Re:MEASUREMENTS

[Daniel Dvorkin]

Before you critizise, please learn to spell.

I think I'm going to leave that line sitting there by itself for a while, in all its lonely glory.