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Posted by: vjkane Nov 21 2007, 05:34 PM

While a number of us discuss the rich opportunities offered by the next Flagship mission opportunity, another New Frontiers selection cycle will start soon, too. Here are a list of the contenders that I'm aware of. The rules of the selection for the previous round is that proposals for specific targets would be considered. Hold overs from the last cycle and on the official list of candidates (let me know if I left anything out):

Lunar sample return
Comet sample return (see presentations at http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/nov_2007_meeting/agenda.html)

It has been proposed that a Saturn flyby with atmospheric probe(s) also be added to the list of selected targets.

It has also been proposed that the competition be opened up to any mission to any target that would fit within the price cap. In that case, see the list of topics at http://www8.nationalacademies.org/cp/meetingview.aspx?MeetingID=2404&MeetingNo=3 for ideas that apparently included (only agenda listed, no links to presentations) an asteroid sample return (near Earth? main belt?) and a Neptune mission (a flyby with atmospheric probes?).

Should the competition be opened up to any bodies, then I would love to see proposals that would include elements from either ESA's LaPlace or Tandem missions combined with a New Frontiers contribution. The combined budgets have a purchasing power (in $ US) of somewhere greater than $1.6B. The Tandem proposal specifically called for two sets of craft, so that funding one with a combined mission seems like a possibility. (Ahhh, it's great to be an arm chair mission architect!)

I have a hard time picking a favorite among these. In terms of verifying or changing our fundamental assumptions about planets, I think the comet sample return would have the edge. In terms of exploring a really fascinating body, Titan would have my vote. But among all these choices, there isn't a dud anywhere. I don't envy NASA having to select among these!

Posted by: PhilCo126 Nov 21 2007, 06:01 PM

The LPI weblink doesn't seem correct...
This being a Manned Spaceflight topic, there's only 1 manned mission that matters: a manned mission to Mars.
Unmanned missions we're all looking forward to: a successful flyby of Pluto by New Horizons ... an exploration of Europa, a rover on Titan?

Posted by: vjkane Nov 21 2007, 06:06 PM

Ooops! My mistake. Doug: Could you move to an appropriate unmanned forum?

Posted by: vjkane Nov 21 2007, 06:08 PM

The browser is probably including the closing parenthesis. Try http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/nov_2007_meeting/agenda.html