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Review of NASA's Planned Mars Program (1996) / Chapter Skim
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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Pages 1-4

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From page 1...
... Given that Mars is one of the highest-priority objects for study identified in the Committee on Planetary and Lunar Exploration's (COMPLEX's) 1994 report, An Integrated Strategy for the Planetary Sciences: 1995-2010, 1 the Space Studies Board asked COMPLEX to review whether the Mars Surveyor and Mars Pathfinder programs, as presently conceived, satisfy the highest priorities for understanding Mars as provided in the committee's Integrated Strategy.
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From page 2...
... Because funding within the Surveyor program is too limited to foster significant development of so-called microinstruments, the scientific objectives of the program could be seriously undermined unless instrument development is externally supported. Thus, to ensure important scientific advancement either microinstrument development should become an essential component of NASA's New Millennium spacecraft technology program, or some activity comparable to the existing Planetary Instrumentation Definition and Development Program (PIDDP)
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From page 3...
... , it will be broadly consistent with a significant subset of the scientific priorities outlined in the Integrated Strategy provided that: q The program of global mapping planned to start with Mars Global Surveyor in 1996 is completed by flying the Pressure Modulator Infrared Radiometer in 1998 and the Gamma-Ray Spectrometer in 2001; q The mobility of landers and other vehicles is enhanced beyond that exemplified by Mars Pathfinder's rover so as to allow measurements to be made on a wide variety of rocks and terrains; q The Mars Surveyor program is kept flexible so that it can respond to scientific and technological opportunities and can encompass a broad range of mission modes; q International partners continue to be involved in order to supplement U.S. capabilities and leverage U.S.
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From page 4...
... 2. See, for example, Space Studies Board, National Research Council, The Role of Small Missions in Planetary and Lunar Exploration, National Academy Press, Washington, D.C., 1995, pp.
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Key Terms

  • surveyor program
  • integrated strategy
  • mars observer
  • space studies
  • mars pathfinder

  • scientific objectives
  • international partners
  • understanding mars
  • initiated mars
  • explore mars

  • mars global
  • surveyor recover
  • global surveyor
  • undermined unless
  • planned participation

  • seriously undermined
  • past nasa
  • board asked
  • nasa continues
  • significant development

  • presently conceived
  • hard blow
  • seismic activity
  • existing planetary
  • priorities outlined

  • advanced rovers
  • pathfinder programs
  • nasa initiated
  • activity comparable
  • upper atmosphere


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