[FPSPACE] Russian Mars mission?

[CHARLES, JOHN B. (JSC-SF2)]

A quick (but bumpy) read via the online Alta Vista translation service shows
that this is a proposal to use 4 Energia boosters to dispatch a MARs Piloted
Orbital STation (MARPOST) propelled by several hundred ion-plasma jet
engines (as used on communication satellites) to orbit Mars and retrieve
unmanned surface samplers.  Risk of failure is not larger than during
flights in low Earth orbit.  If I understand the goal correctly, it is to
allow Russia to again become a space leader.  About half of the article is
not about Russian plans at all, but seems to be about American plans and the
prospects of such plans under the new administration.

The on-line translation service seems good at getting the general idea
across.

John Charles
Houston, Texas