Pave: Sarko, To The Stars

Le jour 273 de Sarko

PRESIDENT BUSH ANNOUNCES NEW VISION
FOR SPACE EXPLORATION PROGRAM

January 14, 2004 (White House) - Today, President Bush announced a new vision for the Nation's space exploration program. The President committed the United States to a long-term human and robotic program to explore the solar system, starting with a return to the Moon that will ultimately enable future exploration of Mars and other destinations.

Four years later... Hey, everybody! France has a super great idea!

FRANCE'S SARKOZY CALLS FOR WORLD MISSION TO MARS

KOUROU, France (French Guiana) February 11, 2008 (Reuters) - French President Nicolas Sarkozy called on Monday for a global programme to explore Mars, bringing together European states and more established space powers like the United States and Russia.

... "Because Mars is there and Mars is accessible to the technologies available to humanity, we cannot refuse to attempt this adventure," Sarkozy told reporters during a visit to the launch site for Ariane rockets in French Guiana.

He said Europe had skills in robotic exploration, transport and technology while the United States, which already has a programme to explore Mars, had the financial means and "technical and scientific competences".

This sounds like NATO in a rocket ship. America builds and fuels it. Europa piles in and barnstorms the solar system.

[Pause.] Yes, well, we would note that space flight is expensive, very expensive. Europa does not adequately provide for its own earth-bound defense. And its collective economy is sluggish. So the Europa contribution will be, what? Boosterism and a pledge to spend as many American dollars as it can wheedle for its native industries? [Pause.] Oh, and headline credits.

Sarko:

I am convinced that an exploration programme can only be global, without exclusivity or appropriation by one nation or another...

Each will be able to take part with their capabilities, their strengths and their choices.*

And yet -- Sarko's convictions notwithstanding -- America some 30 years ago completed its first successful landing on Mars on its lonesome.

Viking 1 was launched Aug. 20, 1975, and arrived at Mars on June 19, 1976. On July 20, 1976, the Viking 1 lander separated from the orbiter and touched down at Chryse Planitia. Viking 2 was launched Sept. 9, 1975, and entered Mars orbit Aug. 7, 1976. The Viking 2 lander touched down at Utopia Planitia on Sept. 3, 1976.

Again, Sarko's solid convictions notwithstanding -- America has completed not one, but several Mars missions without any meaningful assist from Europa. Nor France.

1. Viking Missions (2), orbiters/landers to Mars (1975)
   
2. Mars Pathfinder, lander and rover mission to Mars (1996)
   
3. Mars Global Surveyor, orbiter mission (1996)
   
4. Mars Odyssey, orbiter mission (2001)
   
5. Mars Exploration Rovers, rover mission (2003)
   
6. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, orbiter mission (2005)
   
7. Phoenix Lander, scout lander mission (2007)

America's Mars Science Laboratory is scheduled to launch in the fall of 2009.

By way of contrast, here is a knitting circle project of the European Space Agency.

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* Apparently Sarko is not aware that Europa already launched such a program in 2003, Mars Express, (to which America contributes) following its failed Mars 96 mission.

PFFT (What is this?): France, at the forefront of the past 3 | Rayonnement français ½