European Space Agency leaders appear to be closing in on a solution for a Mars lander initiative that would reconcile technological and science goals with available budgets.rnESA's sole mission to the red planet involves the Mars Express orbiter, launched in 2003. The accompanying British-built Beagle lander crashed onto the planet, and although Mars Express has been successful in its detailed map-rnping of the planet in high-definition stereo (see photo), overall martian know-how remains limited. A key objective of the planned €1.2-billion ($1.7-billion) ExoMars mission is therefore to expand Europe's orbiter expertise and enable it to master new technologies-a rover, entry descent and landing system (EDLS) and a deep drill.
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