China and Russia to Mars

China has joined with Russia to send an unmanned probe to survey the surface of Mars.

This will be Russia's 3rd attempt to study the surface of Phobos, perhaps with China's help the launch will not fail before the mission can be completed. Chinese officials did not comment on the specifics of their involvement except that they will provide survey equipment. In the next decade or so when this and other missions to Mars actually launch it will be interesting to see how the 'race to Mars' plays out. Will we cooperate to gain the most information or will competing superpowers emerge, again?