Mars and Jupiter's moon Europa should be NASA's main areas of focus over the coming decade, according to a report from the National Research Council.
But, it warns, budgetary constraints may mean that these major missions should be delayed, while smaller ones such as those in its New Frontiers and Discovery programs should go ahead first.
"Our recommendations are science-driven, and they offer a balanced mix of missions - large, medium, and small - that have the potential to greatly expand our knowledge of the solar system," says Steven W Squyres, a Cornell professor and chair of the committee that wrote the report.
"However, in these tough economic times, some difficult choices may have to be made. With that in mind, our priority missions were carefully selected based on their potential to yield the most scientific benefit per dollar spent."
Top of the list should be the Mars Astrobiology Explorer Cacher (MAX-C), a Mars mission to examine whether the planet ever supported life and answer questions about its geologic and climatic history. But, says the report, the mission should go ahead only if NASA can keep its costs under $2.5 billion - $1 billion less than the independent estimates provided to the committee.
Read More
"Our recommendations are science-driven, and they offer a balanced mix of missions - large, medium, and small - that have the potential to greatly expand our knowledge of the solar system," says Steven W Squyres, a Cornell professor and chair of the committee that wrote the report.
"However, in these tough economic times, some difficult choices may have to be made. With that in mind, our priority missions were carefully selected based on their potential to yield the most scientific benefit per dollar spent."
Top of the list should be the Mars Astrobiology Explorer Cacher (MAX-C), a Mars mission to examine whether the planet ever supported life and answer questions about its geologic and climatic history. But, says the report, the mission should go ahead only if NASA can keep its costs under $2.5 billion - $1 billion less than the independent estimates provided to the committee.
Read More
No comments:
Post a Comment