Those are very sobering numbers.

We're very excited about the arrival of the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter in a couple of days, but my heart rate is going up for a different reason.

With the arrival of MRO and its very powerful, highly capable payload, we expect to enter into yet another chapter of Mars exploration. In addition to studying Mars as a system, MRO will also be looking at areas that are potential landing sites for our future landed missions.

It was very sobering but in a way uplifting,

You'll find some heartening and some sobering conclusions.

sobering lesson for all parties.