"but it was programmed to land in a much more difficult area than our rovers did"
That's real smart---land in a difficult area or do as common sense dictates, land in a more hospitable area and drive to the difficult stuff, hmmm.
Also, you must check out the esa's site design:
http://www.esa.int/esaHS/index.htmlAcross the top of the so-called euroweenie's human spaceflight page shows American footprints on the Moon.
It was programmed to land near the south pole IIRC.
As for driving to difficult stuff, Opportunity has travelled 4 miles in 2.5 years, at this rate it could get to where Beagle was in about 900 more years or so.
Why are you threatened by the ESA doing science?
Its quite illogical of you.