[FPSPACE] Soviet Mars lander in Red Planet

[Larry Klaes]

For those of you who do not want to know about the
plot of the new film Red Planet, read no further, but
note I will not be saying much in the way of spoilers.

Apparently in the film a robot Soviet Mars lander plays
a role in the plot.  You can see images of it here:

http://www.sciflicks.com/red_planet/images/red_planet_18.html

And here:

http://www.darkhorizons.com/news5/prod1.jpg

Though I have not yet seen the film and I know only that
it is called Kosmos, the lander certainly looks like something
that the Soviets would have launched to Mars, based on their
Luna landers.  

The Soviets did hope to send a probe to Mars that would return 
soil samples in the late 1970s, upstaging the US Viking missions.  
But that plan never came about and in fact may have been the cause
of problems with Venera 11 and 12, delayed Luna 24, and kept 
Lunakhod 3 from ever leaving Earth.  

BTW, how far did such a Mars Sample Return craft get built?
Are any parts and/or diagrams left?


This Web site is a review on the science and astronomy in
Red Planet and does contain extensive spoilers, but you
will be warned well in advance:

http://www.badastronomy.com/bad/movies/redplanet.html

For those who have seen Red Planet, can you provide more
information on this Soviet lander?  Thanks.

Larry