Europe Faces Crunch Decision Over Mars Rover Mission

http://www.marsdaily.com/reports/Europe_Faces_Crunch_Decision_Over_Mars_Rover_Mission_999.html

Getting to Mars isn't just about the right technology, or the right people, what it is about is funding. The European Space agency is thinking about cutting back on its planned unmanned mission to Mars, called ExoMars, which was origionally planned for 2011. The current rover is too heavy for the Russian launcher that ESA origionally planned to use, either they have to change the rover or get another launcher which will cost more money and time. In 2005 the ESA put aside 650 million Euros or 838 million dollars for this program, it doesn't look like the ESA is going to hold to this budget or the original 2011 date. There has got to be a better way to finance these missions than the government.