The probe from the ESA is carrying the lander 'Beagle', which cannot move on the surface but does have drilling equipment that will allow it to look
for underground life. Though I hope its flight is successful, as it's the ESA's first mars lander, and as its flight is being managed by a telecom
satellite company with no deep space experience... I don't think it will have a clean touchdown. Still, success with the Beagle could really boost
the privatization movement within the space industry.
NASA also has two probes that are being launched to mars soon. Each one will be carrying a very advanced robotic rover... rovers that, in theory, can
travel a respectbul distance away from their landing sites.
...oh, and Japan has a lander on its way to mars, as well. In many ways, this is an exciting time.
