Mars: A New Frontier for Space Exploration?
Mars: A New Frontier for Space Exploration? - Ms Catherine Procaccia, Senator - December 2018
Despite the presence of water in the form of ice on the surface and liquid water underground, life on Mars appears unlikely under the current conditions and if it exists at all, it will confined to areas deep underground. After 43 missions to the Red Planet, the most recent of which – InSight (NASA) – landed on 26 November 2018 with a seismometer developed by the French National Centre for Space Studies (Centre national d’études spatiales - CNES), humankind’s age-old dream of exploring Mars has become a credible, albeit complex and costly project.  Terra americana, with 8 American successes in 17 attempted landings, the priority should still be given to robotic missions to Mars. Our participation in the European Space Agency (ESA) and our international cooperation agreements should consolidate France’s role as a space power.
Publication type:
policy brief
Publication language:
English
Publication date:
2018-12
Publication URL:
http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/content/download/77875/796916/version/3/file/OPECST_20190315_Mars_briefing_8.pdf
Institute:
Office Parlementaire d´Evaluation des Choix Scientifiques et Technologiques of the French Parliament (OPECST)
Country:
France