So, the US has decided to back out of the joint missions with ESA to concentrate on Manned flight and space technology:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17020830

So this leave EXOmars very much in the lurch............or does it? Is this an opportunity for ESA to really take the lead in the Martian field leaving NASA to pick up the reins on manned missions to the Moon and asteriods.

This could lead the 2 agencies to pick up on joint missions at a later date with each combining its expertise in their relevant fields to push onto manned missions to Mars (Very much in the future mind you!!!)

This is a nice follow on article to my original post:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17029019

Are we about to see handbags in the space community 

Resurrecting this thread with:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-34919025

 

Exomars is back on track