BBC Focus Magazine

[M Paul Lloyd]

Look who's coming to dinner.

By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Europe has formally invited Russia to participate in space missions to Mars in 2016 and 2018.
A "yes" from the Russian space agency (Roscosmos) may be the only way of saving the missions which are at risk of cancellation due to lack of funds.
The 2016 mission involves a satellite to study the Martian atmosphere, while a big robot rover to investigate the surface is scheduled for 2018.
Both are being planned with the US, which is also struggling financially.
If Russia can be persuaded to provide a rocket to launch the 2016 satellite, it should make both atmospheric and surface ventures financially feasible.

Read more
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-15313471

[Healerman]

The world turns, and times change.

I recall reading in Aviation News, shortly after "The Wall" came down, that the RAF went to evaluate the Mig 29 for future provisioning.

We'll be sharing ships with the French next.

[MikeG]

All space exploration should be global efforts. Sharing the costs is the best way to ensure that projects are not cancelled. Its also a better way to ensure that experiments are not unnecessarily duplicated.

[Shadowwolf]

Should be, however, geo-political realities being what they are a united space exploration program seems unlikely.