From: als@monv.net   
      
   On Sun, 25 Jan 2004 02:34:46 GMT, "Jim McCauley"    
   wrote:   
      
   >"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   
   >   
      
   Price for both rovers is about $800 million, a real bargin for 2   
   missions with this much potential science return.   
      
   And you are correct Jim. The VIkings were primarly biological   
   missions, while Pathfinder was simply an engineering demomstration   
   vehicle. The MER's are the 1st "geologists" on Mars......   
      
   http://spaceprojects.tk   
      
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