[Prime Choice]

Russian engineers simply smart enough to do the job for fraction of cost. That is the source of problem for american space industry.

With all due respect, perhaps you can regale us with the success of Phobos I, Phobos II and the Buran shuttle (which, if memory serves, went up for action in 2002 for a mere $6 million after making only one unmanned flight).

Yet you would have us believe that Russia is ready to make a journey to Mars? Even though Russia has never managed to get a cosmonaut to the moon?

[Consort]

Doveryai no proveryai.

[RusIvan]

Yet you would have us believe that Russia is ready to make a journey to Mars? ==

Who is ready today? I just said that russian space industry may do that for fraction of cost then american space industry.

[boris]

"With all due respect, perhaps you can regale us with the success of Phobos I, Phobos II and the Buran shuttle (which, if memory serves, went up for action in 2002 for a mere $6 million after making only one unmanned flight)."

And don't forget the Buran was virtually a carbon-copy of the Shuttle. Its engines--the RD-0120 (not to be confused with the RD-120) were copies of the SSME with a slightly larger nozzle and a slightly lower thrust. The Russians filed Freedom of Information Act requests (through their embassy) and were given the blueprints, reports, and other documents.

Sometime ago I did a survey of Mars mission success and discovered that well over half the failures were Russian ones.

--Boris