Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

Three new spacecraft are launching to Mars this month and each of them will test new technologies in the race to reach the Red Planet next year, on a quest to find evidence of past life. We explain the missions and why July is the month to travel.

I knew about China and the US and I knew about the Indians and Russians but not that the Emirates were getting involved. I suppose it's something speculative to do with your oil money while you have it. What is really interesting is that each 'visit' is looking at something different, almost as though the scientific community has co-ordinated everything.

adwil said:

What is really interesting is that each 'visit' is looking at something different, almost as though the scientific community has co-ordinated everything.

Perhaps there is a direct correlation between intelligence and fear.

The more intelligent you are, the less you fear people from other countries.

Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

The more intelligent you are, the less you fear people from other countries.

No, I think it's because the mainstream scientific community works together and because they do, they know there's no point in duplicating research at this 'discovery' stage. Later, when all the data has been analysed is the time for repeating an experiment to confirm findings.

Also, when it comes to space exploration, countries HAVE to work together, simply due to the planet's rotation.

It was awkward at first, with Jodrell Bank publishing Russian moon pictures on the front page of British newspapers before Russia even got to see them - but I'm pretty sure most of the bumps have been ironed out.

Jenifer (Zarknorph) said:

Jodrell Bank publishing Russian moon pictures on the front page of British newspapers before Russia even got to see them.

The camera on the spacecraft started faxing data. Jodrell Bank had no fax so borrowed one from the local Daily Express office.  The images were the first actually published taken on the Moon.