by FieryIce » Sat Aug 25, 2007 12:56 pm
The mission concept proposes that a solar-powered spacecraft, using an ion engine to produce thrust for its cruise to Mars, will carry a separate landing craft.
Once the craft reaches Phobos, it will orbit the moon and release the lander, which will descend to the moon's surface and drill for soil samples.
First Phobos, Then On to Mars
This is scheduled to launch in 2016.
[img]http://en.epochtimes.com/news_images/2007-2-25-p9_esa_exomarsdrillunderground.jpg[/img]
[quote]The mission concept proposes that a solar-powered spacecraft, using an ion engine to produce thrust for its cruise to Mars, will carry a separate landing craft.
Once the craft reaches Phobos, it will orbit the moon and release the lander, which will descend to the moon's surface and drill for soil samples.
[/quote]
[url=http://en.epochtimes.com/news/7-2-24/52131.html]First Phobos, Then On to Mars[/url]
This is scheduled to launch in 2016.