Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG) Meeting 24, NASA

Marc's note: For the first time NASA's community-based forum, the Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group (MEPAG), will be holding its meeting outside the U.S., and in this case in Lisbon, Portugal. This is significant in the context of tighter budgets for all concerned where future Mars missions will see greater international cooperation to share costs while at the same time achieving mutual desired science and exploration results. The era of NASA doing Mars mission wholly or mostly on its own appears to be ending. At least for the foreseeable future.

Some of the key topics of the meeting include:

- Discussion of NASA's and ESA's Mars program status, budget, current missions, and forward planning.
- First MEPAG meeting that can respond to the Decadal Survey results.