Debra J. Rahn
Headquarters, Washington, D.C.                                               
May 17, 1993
(Phone:  202/358-1639)
 
RELEASE:  93-87
 
INTERNATIONAL MARS EXPLORATION GROUP FORMED
 
   NASA, the European Space Agency, the Russian Space Research 
Institute (IKI), the Italian Space Agency, the German Space Agency  
and the French Centre National d'Etudes Spatiales  have decided to 
form an International Mars Exploration Working Group to produce an 
international strategy for the exploration of Mars after the year 
2000. 

    This decision was made during a meeting in Wiesbaden, Germany, 
on 
May 10, 1993.

   This marks the first time that the agencies have agreed to 
develop a multilateral strategy on the exploration of Mars.  The 
working group also will examine the possibilities for an 
International Mars Network mission.  In addition, it will provide 
a forum for the coordination of future Mars exploration missions. 

   All interested space agencies that wish to participate will be 
invited to join the working group.  The first meeting is scheduled 
in Graz, Austria, in October 1993.

   During this meeting in Wiesbaden, the space agency 
representatives, together with scientists from around the world, 
also unanimously expressed their support for the Russian Mars 96 
mission, an extension beyond 1996 for the U.S. Mars Observer 
mission and a new start for the Mars Environmental Survey
Pathfinder mission in 1994.


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