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US-based National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is likely to collaborate with the European Space Agency (ESA) for Mars exploration. As per reports, both the space agencies are forced by financial woes to team up for Red Planet exploration. The joint Mars exploration venture is likely to be initiated by 2016.
Last month the officials of NASA have hinted about the possible partnership. According to Ed Weiler, the space sciences chief of NASA, the collaboration between the two space agencies can be seen as the best possible way of achieving shared science goals. However, he added both the sides will have to shed a little bit of ego and nationalism to realise the plan.
Currently, the space agency of United States is reeling under heavy financial woos. The budgetary problems have forced NASA to delay many of its projects. Besides postponing its powerful Mars Science Laboratory to 2011, the space agency has started to cut down its technology spending. Report says that NASA has brought down the expenditure to finance the $2.3 billion next-generation nuclear-powered rover.
On the other hand, the European Space Agency is also battling financial difficulties. According to media sources, ESA is finding it difficult to develop its new drill-toting rover, ExoMars, due to lack of proper funding. Under such circumstances, it has become imperative for both the agencies to go for joint Mars exploration. The details of the partnership between NASA and ESA are likely to be revealed by the end of this month.
