Science Planetary Division Update
Presentation at the Planetary Science Subcommittee
James L. Green Director, Planetary Science Division October 2, 2008
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Outline
Division Overview - Jim
Administration Upcoming Opportunities & Selections Mission Status and Plans PSS Recommendations
Mars Program Overview - Doug MSL Cost Overrun Status & Plans - Jim
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Administration
New Personnel:
Mary Voytek (USGS detailee) - Astrobiology Tibor Kremic (GRC detailee) - Assistant for Flight Program
Hiring status at Hq has slowed down may be months before PSD obtains approval for new hires (ie: Astrobiology...)
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Academy Studies
Congress: NASA will fund National Academy studies:
R&A - Balance with missions Radioisotope Power System Requirements & availability of Plutonium NEO - address issues in the detection and mitigation Jointly requested by NASA and NSF
NASA directed:
Science Opportunities Enabled by NASA's Constellation System Planetary Protection for Mars Sample Return
Charge to the Academy for next Planetary Decadal to be delivered by end of 2008
Will be jointly requested by NASA & NSF Task under development Expect Academy to start process late this year or early next
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Decadal Task Overview
An overview of planetary science--what it is, its relationship to other scientific endeavors, and why it is compelling A broad survey of the current state of knowledge of the solar system An inventory of the top-level scientific questions that should guide flight programs and supporting research programs Recommendations on the optimum balance among small, medium, and large missions and supporting activities A discussion of high value technology development needs A prioritized list of major flight investigations to be initiated over the decade 2011-2020 Recommendations for supporting research required to maximize the science return from the flight investigations
Covers Solar System including the Mars & Moon Extrasolar planets are covered in the Astrophysics Decadal
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Upcoming 2008 Opportunities
Lunar Advanced Science and Exploration Research
ESMD is not participating in the 2008 ROSES call but will maintain their 2007 ROSES commitments
NASA Lunar Science Institute Nodes
32 proposals received ESMD will be part of the selection and fund at least one node
Stand-Alone Mission of Opportunity Notification (SALMON)
Released: September 3, 2008 Preproposal conference held: September 26, 2008 Each proposal opportunity has its own due date
New #3 Frontiers AO - current schedule
Draft release: October 2008 Final release: January 2008
Discovery - under review
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Recent Selections
Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (MAVEN)
Launch in ~November 2013
Astrobiology CAN #5
10 selections (5 new 5 returning teams but 2 with new PIs) 27% success rate Obtained contributions from Astrophysics and Earth Science Divisions Press release today!
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2nd flyby Oct. 6th
25km Enceladus flyby Oct. 9th
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OPF Studies
NASA-ESA joint studies of Jupiter System and Saturn System Science
Studies to concentrate on costing the "sweet spot" science missions Align schedule with ESA: 2018-2022 launch date
New schedule for delivery of studies is Nov. 3 After delivery complete technical evaluation Presentation to NASA/ESA in January 2009 One destination will go forward as a NASA/ESA effort
ESA: Continue as a part of the larger Cosmic Visions selection process NASA: technical risk reduction and budget planning
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LaserCom Demo Wallops Launch on Minotaur V Extended Themis Mission
International geophysical network Will require backside communications
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PSS Findings and Recommendations
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PSS recommendations
R1: Breath of Decadal Committee
Reported this to COMPLEX (Aug. 20)
R2: Over the next two years NASA refine cost estimates and candidate mission timelines for MSR
See Doug McCuistion's presentation
R3: Rover mobility be considered a minimum requirement for sortie missions to the Moon
See Gordon Johnston's OSEWG pr...