Mars rover mission may require more funding before launch
Posted: Thu, Jun 9, 2011, 8:04 AM ET (1204 GMT)
A report by NASA's inspector general warned that the agency's latest Mars rover mission may require additional funding in order to be ready for launch later this year. The report, by NASA's Office of the Inspector General, found that the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission underestimated its costs by $44 million, and without additional funding the mission could miss its launch window late this year, forcing a two-year delay. MSL, also known as Curiosity, already missed its original launch window in 2009 in order because of development delays. Project officials said after the report's release that they believed the rover was still on track to launch this year, but would likely spend all $22 million of budgeted reserves to do so.
A report by NASA's inspector general warned that the agency's latest Mars rover mission may require additional funding in order to be ready for launch later this year. The report, by NASA's Office of the Inspector General, found that the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission underestimated its costs by $44 million, and without additional funding the mission could miss its launch window late this year, forcing a two-year delay. MSL, also known as Curiosity, already missed its original launch window in 2009 in order because of development delays. Project officials said after the report's release that they believed the rover was still on track to launch this year, but would likely spend all $22 million of budgeted reserves to do so.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
China launches first Long March 12A, but booster landing fails
Posted: Sun, Dec 28 9:50 AM ET (1450 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, December 31
European Space Agency Probes Cyber Breach
Aviation Week — 6:59 am ET (1159 GMT) ESA at 50: What Europe’s space agency means for startups today
Tech.eu — 6:58 am ET (1158 GMT) USSPACECOM hosts first AI-enabled summit
US Space Command — 6:57 am ET (1157 GMT) Inside Rocket Lab's effort to outpace larger space rivals
PBS NewsHour — 6:56 am ET (1156 GMT) Vandenberg Issues RFI For Heavy-Lift Launch Site Development
Aviation Week — 6:56 am ET (1156 GMT) |
