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The German chapter, however, was the last to jump on the Mars balloon "bandwagon" and they decided to do it alone, they don't want to cooperate with any of these other groups. They are trying to hitch a ride on the European probe called Mars Express. We'll see if they can do it.
That is not complete right ???
We working on the Mars superpressure balloon project called ARCHIMEDES. We have the oppurtunity to fly with the AMSAT Marsorbiter P5-A, the launch is scheduled for 2007 or 2009. We just have a team consisting of two universities, several institutes and many members of the German Mars Society and some members of Austrian and French chapter. We also got some money from ESA and we just trying to get more fundings from different sources. And that is our main problem, the fundings. We have enough personnel and hopefully know-how.
Our main focus right now is on the entry process. The big question is, when we will inflate the balloon? On the ground in the atmosphere or in space? A trade off analysis is just in work.
We also have som priciple investigators for scientific instruments which already flow some hardware to Mars. Our main instrument is a high resolution camera and we will have a magnetometer and atmospheric sensors on board.
You can find updated technical reports each 6 months on our homepage: Mars Society Germany in English.
Sven Knuth
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