[djf]

I think it’s more like they have to talk to all these entities and governments and get permission...

I’m still kinda miffed they didn’t put a decent microscope on board. They got 17 cameras, but they couldn’t mount a half pound microscope???

Of course just because they didn’t SAY there’s a microscope, that doesn’t mean there isn’t one...

[mvpel]

The MAHLI can take photos down to 14 microns per pixel.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Hand_Lens_Imager

[Falcon4.0]

I made the same comment back in 1976 when the Mars Viking Lander's instruments
detected evidence of life and then it was dismissed as a possible anomaly.
You would think a microscope would be as least the second instrument you would select.