Thursday, NASA officials unveiled a new, long-term plan for exploring Mars that is marked by a cautious schedule, painstaking attention to detail and a major jump in spending. The agency's slower-safer-more-expensive philosophy comes after a string of devastating failures during NASA's quick-and-dirty regime, which included the mysterious disappearance of the Mars Polar Lander in 1999.
The Mars missions, scheduled throughout the next 15 years, are designed to examine and sample Martian ground and atmospheric conditions — an investigation that scientists hope will answer the ultimate question: Is there now, or has there ever been, life on Mars?
The scientists are placing particular emphasis on one robot, tellingly named Mars 2003. This vehicle, now slated for launch in 2011, will ostensibly touch down, collect soil samples, and zip back to Earth. NASA estimates the 300-pound rover will cost between $1 billion and $2 billion.
Unfortunately for the space agency, American public opinion has never been less hospitable to NASA's dreams: The Mars program has weathered two expensive losses in the past two years, and taxpayers are increasingly opposed to funding potentially useless probes and robots. NASA officials are apparently hoping their current public display of fiscal conservatism and careful planning will win back a few hearts.