* Astronomy

Canada Studies Mission to Phobos
Optech Incorporated, the global market leader in the development, manufacture and support of advanced, laser-based survey systems, announced today that is has been selected by the Canadian Space Agency to lead the study of a Canadian-led mission to Phobos, the largest moon of Mars. The proposed Phobos Reconnaissance and International Mars Exploration (PRIME) mission was selected from among 12 proposals received by the Canadian Space Agency last year to be the object of a concept and feasibility study.
The focus of the study will be to outline a Canadian-led mission that could rendezvous, study and land on Phobos, one of the solar systems most mysterious objects. Scientists believe Phobos may hold clues to the origin and evolution of Mars and the solar system. Several missions by Russia and other countries have come close to Phobos, but study leader Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards, Director of Optechs Space Division, thinks that Canada and its international partners have the right stuff to get to the surface and unlock some its mysteries.

"This mission would be a wonderful evolution of Canadas leadership role in planetary science and exploration to support the advancement of human knowledge of Mars and our solar system" - Dr. Robert (Bob) Richards.

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