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Nasa announces new rover mission to Mars in 2020
Mongo
post Dec 4 2012, 11:24 PM
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NASA plans Mars rover remake for 2020

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NASA today announced a $1.5 billion plan to build another Mars rover based on the design of its current Curiosity rover, with the intention of sending it to the Red Planet in 2020 and perhaps storing up samples for later return to Earth.

The move comes less than a year after the space agency said it couldn't afford to contribute $1.4 billion to the European-led Exomars missions, and it seems likely to stir new debate within the planetary science community. Hoped-for missions to other interplanetary destinations, such as the Jovian moon Europa, could conceivably be impacted further by the revised plans for Mars exploration.

John Grunsfeld, associate administrator for science at NASA Headquarters, insisted that the budget could handle the new commitment. "This mission concept fits within the current and projected Mars exploration budget, builds on the exciting discoveries of Curiosity, and takes advantage of a favorable launch opportunity," he said in a NASA news release.

He said the future rover would be built on the same basic design used for the Curiosity rover, which landed on Mars in August, and thus capitalize on the design work that was done during Curiosity's development for its $2.5 billion Mars Science Laboratory mission. Like Curiosity, the new rover would be nuclear-powered, thanks to a spare radioisotope thermoelectric generator, Grunsfeld said.

Grunsfeld announced the plan during a town-hall session at the American Geophysical Union's fall meeting in San Francisco. Based on Twitter updates from the meeting, reaction was deeply mixed. "NASA town meeting audience is very quiet," Lindy Elkins-Tanton of the Carnegie Institution of Washington tweeted. "I think we are all in shock."

Projected budget cuts have cast a pall of uncertainty over future plans for interplanetary probes, but the idea of bringing samples back from Mars for study on Earth is on top of planetary scientists' priority list for the next decade. Grunsfeld told his AGU audience that the rover could have the capability to gather and store samples for later return, depending on how its science mission is defined.

NASA said a science definition team would be selected to outline the mission's objectives, and that the selection of science and instruments for the mission would then be openly competed. The mission would also help lay the groundwork for eventual human exploration of Mars, the agency said.

"The Obama administration is committed to a robust Mars exploration program," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in today's statement. "With this next mission, we're ensuring America remains the world leader in the exploration of the Red Planet, while taking another significant step toward sending humans there in the 2030s."

Two rovers are currently in operation on Mars — Curiosity and Opportunity. Meanwhile, three working spacecraft are orbiting the Red Planet: the European Space Agency's Mars Express as well as NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and Mars Odyssey orbiter. Next year, NASA is due to launch the $500 million MAVEN orbiter to study Mars' upper atmosphere. In 2016, NASA plans to send a $425 million lander called InSight to delve into Mars' depths.

NASA also plans to participate in the European Space Agency's Exomars program by contributing radios for an orbiter and lander due for launch in 2016, as well as scientific apparatus for a 2018 rover. But the space agency had to trim back its commitment to Exomars early this year, in large part due to the need to cover cost overruns on the James Webb Space Telescope. The Russian Space Agency is filling the gap left by NASA's pullback.

U.S. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who has been critical of past cutbacks in NASA's planetary science program, applauded the plan announced today.

"In its few short months on Mars, Curiosity has broadened our understanding of our planetary neighbor, and the findings announced thus far point to even greater discoveries as Curiosity continues to explore Gale Crater and Mount Sharp," Schiff said in a written statement. "An upgraded rover with additional instrumentation and capabilities is a logical next step that builds upon now-proven landing and surface operations systems."

However, Schiff said he favored launching the rover in 2018 — when the alignment of Earth and Mars is more favorable, permitting the launch of a heavier payload. "I will be working with NASA, the White House and my colleagues in Congress to see whether advancing the launch date is possible, and what it would entail," he said.
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- Mongo   Nasa announces new rover mission to Mars in 2020   Dec 4 2012, 11:24 PM
- - elakdawalla   Of interest to this forum: Science News journalist...   Dec 4 2012, 11:35 PM
|- - PaulM   QUOTE (elakdawalla @ Dec 5 2012, 12:35 AM...   Dec 7 2012, 01:07 PM
- - Explorer1   Another chance for the sky-crane too! It's...   Dec 5 2012, 12:23 AM
- - JRehling   It's a necessary evil from time to time, and I...   Dec 5 2012, 12:49 AM
|- - SFJCody   To me it sounds like a splicing of the MAX-C and A...   Dec 5 2012, 07:23 AM
|- - dvandorn   QUOTE (JRehling @ Dec 4 2012, 07:49 PM) ....   Dec 5 2012, 05:35 PM
|- - JRehling   I think you're right, other Doug, but the snag...   Dec 6 2012, 09:55 PM
- - Explorer1   What exactly is meant by 'caching ability...   Dec 5 2012, 07:50 AM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (Explorer1 @ Dec 4 2012, 11:50 PM) ...   Dec 5 2012, 08:29 AM
|- - dvandorn   QUOTE (Explorer1 @ Dec 5 2012, 02:50 AM) ...   Dec 5 2012, 05:21 PM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (dvandorn @ Dec 5 2012, 09:21 AM) T...   Dec 5 2012, 05:26 PM
- - ollopa   Does anyone know what 3D picture John Grunsfeld wa...   Dec 5 2012, 01:10 PM
|- - dombili   http://www.planetary.org/blogs/casey-dreie...in-co...   Dec 5 2012, 03:29 PM
- - Drkskywxlt   Very surprised this was announced yesterday. Mich...   Dec 5 2012, 03:29 PM
- - Fran Ontanaya   I wonder if it will still use the same lubricant o...   Dec 7 2012, 02:29 AM
- - djellison   To be honest, I think Curiosity's system is do...   Dec 7 2012, 02:35 AM
- - dvandorn   Since there was more hydrazine left in the descent...   Dec 7 2012, 02:49 AM
|- - stevesliva   QUOTE (dvandorn @ Dec 6 2012, 09:49 PM) S...   Dec 7 2012, 04:13 AM
- - Explorer1   If the EDL can be modified to avoid kicking up so ...   Dec 7 2012, 03:18 AM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (Explorer1 @ Dec 6 2012, 08:18 PM) ...   Dec 7 2012, 04:11 AM
- - djellison   Correct - although I think margin could be found e...   Dec 7 2012, 04:41 AM
- - Explorer1   Scott Anderson's portable geochronometer would...   Dec 7 2012, 05:16 AM
- - Phil Stooke   No, the imaging part of that mission will be brief...   Dec 7 2012, 02:10 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (Phil Stooke @ Dec 7 2012, 07:10 AM...   Dec 7 2012, 03:24 PM
|- - MahFL   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Dec 7 2012, 03:24 PM)...   Dec 8 2012, 07:13 PM
- - Mars Attack   What would really excite me is including on the 20...   Dec 7 2012, 03:19 PM
- - elakdawalla   If they are to stick to the $1.5B number I th...   Dec 7 2012, 04:53 PM
- - Drkskywxlt   Also, to be responsive to the Decadal Survey, this...   Dec 7 2012, 07:13 PM
- - vjkane   I think that the key unknown for MSL-2020 is the i...   Dec 8 2012, 02:58 AM
- - elakdawalla   On a visit to Honeybee Robotics last year I saw a ...   Dec 8 2012, 05:36 AM
|- - vjkane   Do you know the technology readiness level?   Dec 8 2012, 04:44 PM
|- - pospa   QUOTE (vjkane @ Dec 8 2012, 06:44 PM) Do ...   Dec 8 2012, 04:59 PM
- - Drkskywxlt   Emily, I think the caching technology is reasonabl...   Dec 8 2012, 04:42 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (Drkskywxlt @ Dec 8 2012, 09:42 AM)...   Dec 8 2012, 05:29 PM
||- - Drkskywxlt   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Dec 8 2012, 12:29 PM)...   Dec 8 2012, 07:07 PM
||- - vjkane   QUOTE (Drkskywxlt @ Dec 8 2012, 11:07 AM)...   Dec 8 2012, 08:12 PM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (Drkskywxlt @ Dec 8 2012, 08:42 AM)...   Dec 8 2012, 08:17 PM
- - nprev   MOD NOTE: Please keep rule 1.2 in mind during this...   Dec 8 2012, 08:17 PM
- - Phil Stooke   I think all this concern is very premature. NASA ...   Dec 9 2012, 12:39 AM
- - machi   Many possible instruments for future rover(s) can ...   Dec 9 2012, 10:50 AM
- - dmg   Many concepts and lab experience/testing of protot...   Dec 9 2012, 04:41 PM
- - Drkskywxlt   I'm not griping about a hypothetical payload, ...   Dec 9 2012, 06:31 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (Drkskywxlt @ Dec 9 2012, 11:31 AM)...   Dec 9 2012, 06:48 PM
||- - Drkskywxlt   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Dec 9 2012, 01:48 PM)...   Dec 9 2012, 06:58 PM
||- - djellison   QUOTE MSL is about characterizing habitability of ...   Dec 9 2012, 07:17 PM
|- - centsworth_II   QUOTE (Drkskywxlt @ Dec 9 2012, 01:31 PM)...   Dec 9 2012, 07:34 PM
- - Drkskywxlt   Centsworth...that's certainly true, but such a...   Dec 9 2012, 07:59 PM
- - djellison   The point regarding Europa is moot. I explained w...   Dec 9 2012, 08:09 PM
- - Drkskywxlt   Doug, I see your and Casey's point, that this ...   Dec 9 2012, 08:49 PM
- - Don1   I really don't understand what the scientific ...   Dec 9 2012, 09:25 PM
|- - JRehling   It will be interesting to see what opportunities t...   Dec 11 2012, 06:03 PM
|- - centsworth_II   QUOTE (JRehling @ Dec 11 2012, 01:03 PM) ...   Dec 11 2012, 06:18 PM
|- - JRehling   A geochronometer is an excellent example of a kind...   Dec 11 2012, 06:49 PM
- - vjkane   NASA appears to have made a strategic decision to ...   Dec 10 2012, 02:55 AM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (vjkane @ Dec 9 2012, 06:55 PM) How...   Dec 10 2012, 03:47 AM
- - Eyesonmars   On the way to the surface MSL ejected about 300kg ...   Dec 11 2012, 07:07 PM
|- - JRehling   It would surely require redesign to buy payload at...   Dec 11 2012, 07:31 PM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (Eyesonmars @ Dec 11 2012, 11:07 AM...   Dec 11 2012, 08:04 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (djellison @ Dec 11 2012, 01:04 PM)...   Dec 11 2012, 09:02 PM
|- - djellison   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Dec 11 2012, 01:02 PM...   Dec 11 2012, 09:33 PM
|- - brianc   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Dec 11 2012, 09:02 PM...   Dec 11 2012, 10:54 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (brianc @ Dec 11 2012, 03:54 PM) Wh...   Dec 11 2012, 11:07 PM
- - centsworth_II   Apparently another possibility for increasing payl...   Dec 11 2012, 08:28 PM
- - fredk   He says "a 2020 launch would be favorable...   Dec 11 2012, 08:40 PM
|- - centsworth_II   QUOTE (fredk @ Dec 11 2012, 03:40 PM) ......   Dec 11 2012, 08:58 PM
|- - JRehling   The distance between Earth and Mars will reach a l...   Dec 11 2012, 09:06 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (JRehling @ Dec 11 2012, 02:06 PM) ...   Dec 11 2012, 09:17 PM
|- - JRehling   I certainly stand corrected. It looks like there...   Dec 11 2012, 09:32 PM
|- - fredk   QUOTE (mcaplinger @ Dec 11 2012, 10:17 PM...   Dec 11 2012, 10:09 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (fredk @ Dec 11 2012, 03:09 PM) So ...   Dec 11 2012, 10:26 PM
- - centsworth_II   At least it's good to see that a mission plann...   Dec 11 2012, 09:24 PM
- - Explorer1   And they wouldn't be balanced very well either...   Dec 11 2012, 11:27 PM
- - stevesliva   It would be neat happenstance if there happened to...   Dec 12 2012, 12:45 AM
|- - MahFL   QUOTE (stevesliva @ Dec 12 2012, 01:45 AM...   Dec 12 2012, 12:47 AM
- - djellison   The rover is only about 1/4 of the launch mass of ...   Dec 12 2012, 02:09 AM
- - jsheff   Does anyone have possible launch and arrival dates...   Dec 20 2012, 06:36 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (jsheff @ Dec 20 2012, 11:36 AM) Do...   Dec 20 2012, 06:55 PM
|- - jamescanvin   QUOTE (jsheff @ Dec 20 2012, 06:36 PM) Do...   Dec 21 2012, 08:59 AM
- - Explorer1   Solicitation beginning, any takers? http://space...   Dec 20 2012, 08:35 PM
|- - vjkane   QUOTE (Explorer1 @ Dec 20 2012, 12:35 PM)...   Dec 20 2012, 09:34 PM
- - Explorer1   I mentioned the portable rock dater being develope...   Dec 20 2012, 10:28 PM
- - ngunn   Since opinions are invited I'd say take the te...   Dec 20 2012, 10:41 PM
- - machi   I think that MSL sized rover can do both things - ...   Dec 21 2012, 10:38 AM
- - Floyd   QUOTE (Explorer1 @ Dec 20 2012, 04:35 PM)...   Dec 21 2012, 04:00 PM
|- - jsheff   QUOTE (Floyd @ Dec 21 2012, 11:00 AM) I h...   Jan 31 2013, 02:41 AM
- - TheAnt   I like the idea of a drill as vjkane suggested, an...   Dec 23 2012, 04:11 PM
|- - centsworth_II   QUOTE (TheAnt @ Dec 23 2012, 11:11 AM) Da...   Dec 23 2012, 05:00 PM
|- - TheAnt   Oh yes, that might be a valid point. Yet it does...   Dec 23 2012, 06:06 PM
- - nprev   One thing to keep firmly in mind when thinking abo...   Dec 23 2012, 07:11 PM
|- - TheAnt   QUOTE (nprev @ Dec 23 2012, 08:11 PM) Not...   Dec 23 2012, 08:17 PM
- - Explorer1   Your link is broken; it's http://mars.jpl.nasa...   Jan 31 2013, 04:49 AM
|- - stone   Only one from GB, not really an european, and noo...   Feb 2 2013, 06:11 PM
|- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (stone @ Feb 2 2013, 11:11 AM) Only...   Feb 4 2013, 03:19 PM
- - vjkane   I believe that NASA has said that it is open to fo...   Feb 5 2013, 01:12 AM
- - stone   To reduce costs for NASA a lot of the instruments ...   Feb 5 2013, 09:39 AM
- - mcaplinger   QUOTE (stone @ Feb 5 2013, 02:39 AM) To r...   Feb 5 2013, 04:20 PM
- - stone   I never heard of an ESA funded instrument so far. ...   Feb 5 2013, 04:52 PM
- - vjkane   One low hanging opportunity would be to use some o...   Feb 5 2013, 06:34 PM
- - stone   ExoMars instruments either from the Pateur-Payload...   Feb 5 2013, 08:09 PM
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