Next-Gen Mars Rover In Danger of Cancellation

[n122vu]

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/science/story/53487.html

With the economy taking such a downward turn and budgets receiving more cuts across the board, I personally expect to see more such announcments.

 

[astrosammy]

Just because of some guys who don't how money should be used. And they even get rewarded with more money to throw out by the government for this. That really makes me angry.

 

[n122vu]

Just because of some guys who don't how money should be used. And they even get rewarded with more money to throw out by the government for this. That really makes me angry.

Exactly. Typically, they go with the contractor that submits the lowest bid for the job. In this case would seem that the company or companies supplying some of the parts were lazy in getting them completed in a timely manner, probably from the security of knowing they had won the contract. As a result, going with the lowest bidder, in this case, was more costly in the end.

 

[Hashy]

Well you can either look at it as, the whole space program is up in the air,

or

The existence of the entire planet is at steak..... mmmmm.. steak......

 

[JamesG]

Hubris. They should have just built a fleet of Spirit/Opportunities to scatter around Mars to cover the most territiory and to minimize the impact if any one launch is lost.

 

[thomasantony]

Hubris. They should have just built a fleet of Spirit/Opportunities to scatter around Mars to cover the most territiory and to minimize the impact if any one launch is lost.

Oh no .. Then they will all become sentient and become one BIG Mars Rover Mind, and launch WMDs towards Earth .. lolz.