Report supports Mars sample return efforts
Posted: Fri, Sep 28, 2012, 7:29 AM ET (1129 GMT)
An independent panel established by NASA to study future directions for the agency's Mars exploration program concludes that the program should retain a long-term goal of returning Martian samples to the Earth. The Mars Program Planning Group (MPPG), in a summary report issued this week, provided NASA with several options for carrying out a sample return mission, including scenarios where human missions could play a role, such as by retrieving samples returned by such missions in cislunar space. Regarding near-term mission options, the MPPG report found that even by scaling back proposed concepts for rovers to collect samples, none could fit into the budget in time for a 2018 launch; barring an increase in money, NASA would either fly an orbiter mission in 2018 that could, in part, serve as a telecommunications relay for future missions, or push back the rover mission to 2020 or later. A final decision on at least the near-term Mars plans isn't expected by NASA before the release of its fiscal year 2014 budget proposal early next year.
An independent panel established by NASA to study future directions for the agency's Mars exploration program concludes that the program should retain a long-term goal of returning Martian samples to the Earth. The Mars Program Planning Group (MPPG), in a summary report issued this week, provided NASA with several options for carrying out a sample return mission, including scenarios where human missions could play a role, such as by retrieving samples returned by such missions in cislunar space. Regarding near-term mission options, the MPPG report found that even by scaling back proposed concepts for rovers to collect samples, none could fit into the budget in time for a 2018 launch; barring an increase in money, NASA would either fly an orbiter mission in 2018 that could, in part, serve as a telecommunications relay for future missions, or push back the rover mission to 2020 or later. A final decision on at least the near-term Mars plans isn't expected by NASA before the release of its fiscal year 2014 budget proposal early next year.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Pentagon dismisses $1.2 trillion cost estimate for Golden Dome
Posted: Sat, May 16 9:36 AM ET (1336 GMT) Cowboy Space proposes 20,000 satellite orbital data center constellation
Posted: Sat, May 16 9:33 AM ET (1333 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Wednesday, May 20
Firefly Aerospace Accelerates Spacecraft Production with Expanded Campus and Innovation Lab in Central Texas
Firefly Aerospace — 4:30 am ET (0830 GMT) Sandhoo named Space Development Agency director, PAE for missile warning and tracking
Defensescoop — 4:29 am ET (0829 GMT) Vega C Deploys ESA-China Smile Satellite
Aviation Week — 4:28 am ET (0828 GMT) Sandhoo Becomes U.S. SDA Leader And Space Force PAE
Aviation Week — 4:25 am ET (0825 GMT) Peterson needs more room for workers, as Space Force plans to double in size
Colorado Springs Gazette — 4:25 am ET (0825 GMT) |
