Proposing a series of Mars Scout missions:
Earth Scouts the Red Planet
MARS SCOUT SMART LANDER SAMPLE RETURN
scout (skout)
scout·ed, scout·ing, scouts
To spy on or explore carefully in order to obtain information; to reconnoiter; to observe and evaluate; to search or scout around; one that is dispatched from a main body to gather information in preparation for an action.
NASA is planning a line of small Scout landing missions, which would be selected from science community proposals. In addition to small landers rolling across the Martian surface, they could have airborne vehicles such as airplanes or balloons.Undoubtedly, additional Scout missions will follow.
- First Launch: December 2007
- Mars Landing: February 2008
- Mars Scout
- Second Launch: October 2009
- Mars Arrival: September 2010
- Smart Lander
- Third Launch: October 2014
- Mars Arrival: September 2015
- Sample Return
- Fourth Launch: October 2016
- Mars Arrival: September 2017
- Sample Return
