Soon after NASA decided to go ahead with a 2009 launch of its next Mars rover mission, the ESA tentatively decided last week to delay Europe's first Mars rover until a 2016 launch.
The reason for the delay was grounded in financial concerns. Scientists are pushing for a rover with increased capabilities, which would increase the budget. Several ESA member governments objected to the higher budget, no doubt influenced by the current economic crisis in Europe and America.
ESA managers plan to use the extra time to seek cooperation agreements with NASA and the Russian space agency in a bid to increase the capability of the rover while stabilizing the budget.
The tentative decision could be confirmed at a ministerial meeting of the member governments of ESA next month.
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