Space Studies Board Annual Report 2007 (2008) / Chapter Skim
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5.8 Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program: A Midterm Review
5.8 Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program: A Midterm Review
Pages 86-93
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From page 86... ...
, planetary astronomy, and mission data analysis programs; and (5) enabling technologies.
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From page 87... ...
The current planetary exploration program is highly productive, carrying out exciting missions and making fundamental discoveries. However, the committee awarded a downward trend arrow because the committee concluded that this progress is unlikely to continue at the present rate, and that on its current course NASA will not be able to fulfill the recom
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From page 88... ...
In addition, NASA has neglected work on the Mars Sample Return mission, particularly technology development. Although the agency indicates that this situation may change, the committee notes that only significant progress can erase skepticism about the prospects in this area.
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From page 89... ...
Extensive community involvement is a major factor in the success of the Mars Exploration Program. The committee was also disappointed to learn that NASA was simultaneously suggesting that Mars missions after the 2011 Scout mission might be abandoned with only the promise of a Mars Sample Return in 2020, but no clear investment or programmatic path to make it happen.
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From page 90... ...
Most importantly, the committee has serious concerns about the current and projected funding levels for the research and analysis program in the Planetary Science Division, with particular concern for astrobiology, resulting in the assessment of a downward trend. The problems in planetary astronomy reflect NASA's lack of participation in the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST)
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From page 91... ...
In addition, NASA is encouraged to proceed to implementation with its plan for upgrading and revamping the Deep Space Network and to work aggressively to deal with the impending crisis in launch vehicles brought on by the planned retirement of the Delta II rocket, the spiraling costs of launch services, and uncertainty about the future availability of appropriately sized launch vehicles for smaller missions. NASA has made progress in science and flight missions, but there is a clear threat to meeting the goals of the New Frontiers in the Solar System report and the Mars architecture report over the next 5 years.
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From page 92... ...
Chapter 4, Mars Recommendation: NASA should begin actively planning for Mars Sample Return, including precursor missions that identify and cache well-characterized samples of both geological and biological interest. Recommendation: NASA should begin consulting various groups such as MEPAG and the astrobiology/exobiology research community to assess the current state-of-the-art in laboratory analysis instruments, identify where further development would be beneficial for Mars sample analysis and biosignature detection, and verify that the needed instruments, laboratory facilities, and new researcher training will be made available as part of the sample-handling facility as soon as samples are returned.
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From page 93... ...
Recommendation: NASA should make an assessment of which technologies will be required for Mars Sample Return and conduct an independent assessment of the analogous technology needs for the Moon, Venus, asteroids, and other targets. Recommendation: NASA should fund the Small Aperture Receive Array for the Deep Space Network and plan to replace the 70-meter antennas with arrays of small-diameter antennas by 2015.
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