From: jmccaule1@attbi.com   
      
   "Doc"  wrote in message   
   news:f0c1bc20.0401231412.8a2616f@posting.google.com...   
   > Among all the hoopla surrounding the latest Mars explorer, what I   
   > haven't heard is what this one will do that the previous ones didn't?   
      
   These rovers do real geology.  The Vikings were looking primarily for direct   
   evidence of current life.  The MERs are looking for geological evidence of   
   current or former life.   
      
   > I also haven't seen a pricetag on the things. Anybody?   
      
   A small fraction of the Viking missions, in constant dollars.  I vaguely   
   remember one sixth or less, but I could be off either way.   
      
      
   Jim McCauley   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)