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But there are quite different conditions on Mars that form dunes, as opposed to how they form on Earth.
Viking Missions (1&2) - 1974 - $935m === $3.5 billion in 1997The journey to Mars usually takes 7 to 9 months
Mars Pathfinder - 12/96 - $175m
Mars Exploration Rovers (Spirit and Opportunity) - 06/03 - $820m + $124m in extensions
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - 08/05 - Initial cost (to 2011) of $716m. Current costs $31m/year
Phoenix - 08/07 - $420m
Curiosity Rover - 11/11 - life-cycle cost of US$3.2 billion in 2020 dollars
Insight - 05/18 - $830m
Perseverance - 07/20 - life-cycle cost of US$2.9 billion
Curiosity - The landing site was less than 2.4 km (1.5 mi) from the center of the rover's touchdown target after a 560 million km (350 million mi) journeyGo figure - so accurate after take off from one rotating, moving body and then landing on another one (a 0.1second accuracy based on just of the orbit speed, let alone factoring in the rotation speed too)
After a 7 months journey, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter then needed 5 months of aerobraking before it reached its final orbit positionWhereas:
Phoenix entered the Martian atmosphere at nearly 21,000 km/h (13,000 mph), and within 7 minutes had decreased its speed to 8 km/h (5.0 mph) before touching down on the surfaceI've experienced emergency braking in a car but can't conceive the deacceleration / g forces stopping from 21,000 km/h in 7 minutes
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter - Current costs $31m/yearJust to clarify, MRO has been kept in service to act as a high-speed relay station between Earth and the Mars surface. The MRO is maintenance free, it never needs additional fuel and it never needs any servicing or service parts. All it needs to do is automatically use it's existing facilities to relay signals
Anyone else confused as to what has been sent to Mars and the costs? ... Probably about $20+ billion in todays moneyA bit extravagant for sending a shopping trolley up there.
Highland Fleet Lute A very nice earner if "there" is the Greenland areaI take it you're referring to all the Richard Hoagland "packet of fags found on Mars!!!" pics.
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