http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/galle...portunity.html

Stereopairs are a nice touch. What have we gotten for our ~$billion?

1) Volcanic regolith background, plus
2) Meteoric strikes, then
3) Mix well with wind and cook with solar UV; wait a billion years.
4) http://amesnews.arc.nasa.gov/releases/2003/03_87AR.html
5) WIRED 12.03 146 (2004)

Nothing. The only thing NASA will eructate is studies on its
studies. There are no "discoveries" because there is nothing present
to be discovered. Not all real estate is valuable. At least the moon
is a competent and accessible platform for observation (UV through
deep radio in hard vacuum, with the bonus of low gravity and for large
structures and physically blocked terrestrial EMF emissions) and
launch (vacuum, low gravity).

BTW - no canals. The only usable major power source on Mars would be
a local nuclear reactor. Combustion is out, solar panels don't
receive enough sunlight even at the equator.

The singular interesting project would be to pepper Mars with
synchronized seismic sensors then de-orbit and crash Deimos (2.4X10^15
kg or 22.6% the mass of Phobos, and orbiting more slowly 1.36 vs.
2.138 km/sec mean). A big thump would tell us about Mars' internal
structure.

--
Uncle Al
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/qz.pdf
http://www.mazepath.com/uncleal/eotvos.htm
(Do something naughty to physics)