Box 1. Nasa's future Mars missions

From the following article:

Mars orbiter ready to scout for future landing sites as NASA looks ahead

Tony Reichhardt

Nature 436, 613(4 August 2005)

doi:10.1038/436613a

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10 August 2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter

Will make high-resolution measurements of the surface from orbit after its arrival in March 2006.

Late 2007: Phoenix lander

Will search for water and organic molecules in the high-northern latitudes of Mars.

Late 2009: Mars Science Laboratory

A science lab on a mobile rover. Will look for signs of life, as well as studying local geology and planetary processes relevant to prospects for life.

2010+: Future missions

Plans include at least one Mars Scout mission and possible sample-return missions, although there are no set dates. Work is planned to develop miniaturized surface-science instruments and the ability to drill 100 metres below the surface. Still aiming for a manned mission around 2030.

Mars orbiter ready to scout for future landing sites as NASA looks ahead HST/NASA

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