NASA Snafu

[tw]

Originally Posted by OnyxCougar

Yup. and that portion of the program was a couple million, at least.

The Rover missions to Mars cost about $180 million. They were so successful that NASA asked for another $15million to operate both Rovers for another 18 months. But since the Man to Mars mission is soaking up money everywhere, the Rover mission had to fight for that $15 million and may be terminated after those 18 months.

Amazing how little cost in real science but how difficult it is when competing against 'glory' missions.

When does the Darpa Grand Challenge race again?

I have since forgotten the exact numbers. But by 2010(?), the military must replace 40% of its people with autonomous machines. That means, for example, a supply convoy of robot trucks is lead by only two humans.

I wonder if that space robot was designed (again) using feet instead of meters. 'Uhhps there goes another hundred million bucks.'