French and U.S. officials are discussing changes in the schedule and details of their proposed joint Mars Sample Return mission but remain committed to the project, French space leaders said earlier this month. In his inaugural address on May 4, Roger-Gerard Schwartzenberg, France's new research minister responsible for space activities, expressed unqualified support for the initiative launched by his predecessor, Claude Allegre, two years ago (AW&ST June 29,1998, p. 27). "We must play an active role in the Martian exploration [program]. We can't afford to sit back and watch others do it for us."
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