Russia aims for first conquest of Mars

if putin have his way he personally ride a motorbike with a russian flag and a shoulder mounted rocketlauncher on the surface of mars to bolster his image of strong russian bear

LOL Husky. . . .yes, Putin has a huge ego to massage. He loves the adoration of the Russian people, especially the peasants who most likely will vote for him. It's unlikely that the more affluent Muskovites will vote for him. They already know all about him and his thirst for power. AND they understand that once a KGB, always a KGB.
On the other hand, IF the Russians are successful at landing this probe on Phobos, it would be another step for mankind, and would give proof that Sample Return is possible, no matter which country does it.
However, I would still rather that any Sample Return NOT be brought directly back to Earth. Safety practices would send the sample to the ISS and directly into a special science receiving module on the ISS that can be disconnected at once if there is a sign of contamination. There is no way to know if the Sample might contain microbes or larger life that could be harmful to Terran life, be it mammal or plant life.

Russians cannot even manage the regular flights to ISS..

rawa1. . .they DID manage to fly to the ISS just recently. . .haven't you heard?

Hopefully, they will continue with that.
I admire the resilient Russian people and I wish them well and continued freedom. But I fear that Putin plans to enslave them again and may use the military to back him up. I'm sure the Russian scientists are dedicated to research, but even they might be ostracized again if they fail with the Phobos probe. National pride, you know.

Hopefully, they will continue with that.
I admire the resilient Russian people and I wish them well and continued freedom. But I fear that Putin plans to enslave them again and may use the military to back him up. I'm sure the Russian scientists are dedicated to research, but even they might be ostracized again if they fail with the Phobos probe. National pride, you know.

It seems that Putin and his counterparts in China have gotten just a little smarter over the last few decades. For the most part, I think they realize how little necessity there is for using the military. Corruption, bribes, threats and manipulation of the media and public on a massive scale works so much better for them. They've taken the American example, and twisted it into a tool of oppression while seeming to look fairly modern, "democratic-like", and peaceful.

Russians cannot even manage the regular flights to ISS..

Americans don't even have a means of reaching the ISS, and you're too broke to change that because you're causing insurrection in seven Islamic nations and our satellites to plant Israeli puppet governments before Russia and China emerge as the dominant world superpowers and slap you silly.

In the new WTO accord you conceded to all our demands. So powerful you are.

As for the Russian accomplishments in space - we Americans should be embarrassed and ashamed that we have let our government destroy our strong lead in space exploration. The fact that we are reliant on the Russians for transportation is a national disgrace.

As for the Russian accomplishments in space - we Americans should be embarrassed and ashamed that we have let our government destroy our strong lead in space exploration. The fact that we are reliant on the Russians for transportation is a national disgrace.

Actually my old gf makes some decent change translating at NASA for you yanks who only speak one language. She'll retire quite nicely with your continued Republican outsourcing of jobs. So thanks in advance!

Russians cannot even manage the regular flights to ISS..

Americans don't even have a means of reaching the ISS, and you're too broke to change that because you're causing insurrection in seven Islamic nations and our satellites to plant Israeli puppet governments before Russia and China emerge as the dominant world superpowers and slap you silly.

In the new WTO accord you conceded to all our demands. So powerful you are.

For once, you are able to string together a few sentences based in fact. This is sadly true.

The present political and economic environment in the U.S. is no longer conducive to emphasizing such importance of space exploration and research. This did not happen overnight, but gradually through several administrations, both NASA and Federal. The present administration is de-emphasizing science and military defence to placate the leftist masses, to the detriment of the U.S. economy and space science programs.
The new revolution of America's rabble is almost in full swing. While we are preoccupied with nonsense in our own country and no longer believe in "spare the rod, spoil the child", the Russians and the Red Chinese are forging ahead, not because they are technologically superior, but because they are more focused on the important things, such as a viable space program. We cannot curb the violence from our own people. Some of our civil rights amendments have turned around to bite us and the chickens have come home to roost.
What can we do about it? Absolutely nothing.

Kochevnik. . . .unfortunately for your former g/f, there will most likely be no Social Security checks coming to her on a monthly basis. The Ponzi scheme is almost broke. She should have bought gold coins as a hedge against poverty in her old age. So should you. You may do better in Russia or mainland China where I'm sure that you will be treated royally for your faith in their ideology. You can feel sorry for us, the people of America, but please don't underestimate us either. We will still prevail after enough of our people wake up. It's only a temporary setback, never fear.

Oh, one more thing, Kovechnik. . . . .

You are sadly mistaken if you think that there will be only TWO countries emerging as the strongest superpowers of the world. Think on it very carefully.
Do you honestly believe that Red China will be content to be the number two (2)superpower? The Russians, if left standing, will become China's "USEFUL IDIOTS" first, then if Russia becomes too strong and forges ahead of China, a racial war will ensue. China has always been racially motivated to prove themselves superior as a race, long before they turned to Communism. Most of Russia is white Caucasian. That is an affront to China's racial sensibilities, especially since their borders run so closely. There will be ONE superpower emerging in the end. So take care with whom you stand.

Russians cannot even manage the regular flights to ISS..

And yet, no one else can manage ANY manned flights to the ISS. And the Russians have made their last flight. So, that was a pretty idiotic statement you made there.

I find it ironic that the Russians/Soviets have essentially littered mars with over a dozen failed spacecraft, and yet they're the only ones who managed to land on Venus and send back pictures.

They've managed to be one of the most successful and unsuccessful batch of space explorers out there. The simpler it is, the more likely they'll fail. The more ridiculously hostile or difficult it is, the higher their chance of success.

Since no one has managed to return a rock from mars or phobos yet, I'll give them good odds on successfully completing this one.

Let 'em have it. America doesn't need a space program. We have the 99% that needs bailing out.

Obama told me so.

And the Russians have made their last flight.

The Russians have made their last flight? Not sure I read that right. Perhaps I misunderstood your intent.

See the NASA approved flight schedule below:

http://www.nasa.g...ule.html

rawa1. . .they DID manage to fly to the ISS just recently. . .haven't you heard?

Yep, I heard of it. It was third attempt and just unmanned fly. The Russians are unreliable.

http://www.satnew...72369255

BTW Their effort to reach the Mars is just an pretension to break Outer Space Treaty. Because it would require the nuclear engines tested in the atmosphere. Which would bring the risk of global plutonium pollution at the case of failure.

And the Russians have made their last flight.

The Russians have made their last flight? Not sure I read that right. Perhaps I misunderstood your intent.

See the NASA approved flight schedule below:

http://www.nasa.g...ule.html

Ummm...let me rephrase. The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS. I did not mean to imply that there are no more flights scheduled.

Let 'em have it. America doesn't need a space program. We have the 99% that needs bailing out.

Obama told me so.

@Shootist - I'm fairly sure that your comment belongs in a political article/conversation. Since neither apply to this article...

rawa1. . .they DID manage to fly to the ISS just recently. . .haven't you heard?

Yep, I heard of it. It was third attempt and just unmanned fly. The Russians are unreliable.

http://www.satnew...72369255

BTW Their effort to reach the Mars is just an pretension to break Outer Space Treaty. Because it would require the nuclear engines tested in the atmosphere. Which would bring the risk of global plutonium pollution at the case of failure.

I'd have no objection to that.

But, you're incorrect. The Outer Space Treaty says no such thing.

"The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS. I did not mean to imply that there are no more flights scheduled." - that guy

You mean to say that Missions 30/31, 32/33, etc. for 2012 have been scrapped?

Someone needs to tell NASA!

The Outer Space Treaty says no such thing.

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned the stationing and use of nuclear devices in space.

"The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS. I did not mean to imply that there are no more flights scheduled." - that guy

You mean to say that Missions 30/31, 32/33, etc. for 2012 have been scrapped?

Someone needs to tell NASA!

Now I know you're doing this on purpose.

The Russian Federal Republik is launching a new probe to Mars tomorrow. I hope that it succeeds, and also that this success will inspire young Russians to follow in the footsteps of Sergei Korolev and become rocket scientists. A whole new future in VASIMR's like Dr. Chang-Diaz', and other electric nuclear powered rockets beckons us forward. The use of non fluid dynamic electro-magnetic technologies awaits to miniaturize power plants and increase efficiencies. This will also help as the main bar to space propulsion is handling and transporting large amounts of power. The future of our species' survival is in space. In the near term it will be mining for the rare earths that are in short supply on our planet, like iridium which is much more common on our asteroids. This is our system. All of it! It is the manifest destiny of mankind to rise above pettiness and to claim it. Claim it not and our future will be like those of Easter Island who bred too fast and starved.

The Outer Space Treaty says no such thing.

The Outer Space Treaty of 1967 banned the stationing and use of nuclear devices in space.

WRONG.

How many ways do I have to say it?

You do NOT understand the wording or specific intent of the OST.

Please understand: the Russian and American way to do space exploration (and war and other things) is fundamentally different. The Russians take the simplest approach possible: so you see a lot of failures, punctuated by major successes. The Americans take much more stock in safety, testing, etc. So you see lots of minor successes punctuated by catastrophic failures. But the Russians also learn: they are using 50 year old tech to better success than we in America ever used our space shuttles.

Old joke: We needed to write in space. America spent billions and years to develop an amazing pen that can write underwater, upside down, etc. The Russians... they used a pencil.

That is the essence of the Russian ethos!

LOL ahmed. . . .you are so right.

"The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS. I did not mean to imply that there are no more flights scheduled." - that guy

You mean to say that Missions 30/31, 32/33, etc. for 2012 have been scrapped?

Someone needs to tell NASA!

Now I know you're doing this on purpose.

that_guy. . . . maybe you shoulda added the words "THIS YEAR" to '"The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS"?

I dont understand the negativity about US manned spaceflight. It still has the largest budget of all, and there are multiple rockets and spacecrafts in development ready to fly in a few years. The gap will be shorter than the one between Apollo and Shuttle programs.

I don't understand the negativity about US manned spaceflight.

The western society is oriented to personal safety of individuals. For Russians the price of human life is much lower and they're willing to accept the risk connected with such mission well before the advance in technology will exclude this risk bellow acceptable level. In addition, the cost and technological demands of manned missions are much higher (I mean in order of magnitude) with compare to unmanned missions and the progress in robotics decreases the actual need of manned missions gradually.

that_guy. . . . maybe you shoulda added the words "THIS YEAR" to '"The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS"?

I don't believe that I should have to explain every detail that you guys could pick out in context. It's one thing to add some clarification, it's another to painfully explain everything.

I could have said that "the latest russian ISS flight was successful, and they haven't injured any of our men yet." Does that satisfy your particulars?

that_guy. . . . maybe you shoulda added the words "THIS YEAR" to '"The russians have successfully completed the last flight they had scheduled to the ISS"?

I don't believe that I should have to explain every detail that you guys could pick out in context. It's one thing to add some clarification, it's another to painfully explain everything.

I could have said that "the latest russian ISS flight was successful, and they haven't injured any of our men yet." Does that satisfy your particulars?

Oh, NOW I get it! :)

@that_guy

I immediately understood what you said as I was reading it. No problem with my comprehension skills. But some others may not comprehend so well. :)

Shootist says:

Let 'em have it. America doesn't need a space program. We have the 99% that needs bailing out.

Obama told me so.

Ah yes, the 99% who are, in reality, the great unwashed minority who THINK they are in the majority. Hey, since there is a huge problem in the world with overpopulation, why not ask the 99% to volunteer to get spayed and neutered. . .oops, I meant castrated and hysterectomied. If they continue to bear children, the country becomes more poor. . .thus, less money for space programs.

It was third attempt and just unmanned fly. The Russians are unreliable.

Exactly as I predicted (I even got two downvotes for it): http://www.physor...obe.html

For Russians the price of human life is much lower...

You make me picture an old greasy guy with a hammer/wrench in his hand in a small backroom under a shuttle saying
"Is ok... she fly now, no worry, you go in space!"