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schedule of future solar system exploration
Explorer1
post Dec 10 2013, 10:32 PM
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Here's something unexpected (mods move if a more appropriate thread exists and lets keep any discussion firmly on this, not their ultimate goal!): Mars One robotic lander/orbiter tech demonstration. First private interplanetary mission!
Lander based on Phoenix, to be built by Lockheed Martin for a 2018 launch. A few quotes (bold emphasis mine.)

http://www.mars-one.com/en/mars-one-news/p...mission-to-mars
http://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/news/pres...ss-marsone.html

QUOTE
The lander will have the ability to scoop up Martian soil with a robotic arm similar to the Phoenix mission. A water experiment will extract water from the Martian soil. A power experiment will demonstrate the deployment and operation of thin-film solar panels on the surface, and a camera on the lander will be used to make continuous video recordings.

The demonstration satellite will provide a high bandwidth communications system in a Mars synchronous orbit and will be used to relay data and a live video feed from the lander on the surface of Mars back to Earth.


QUOTE
Mars One’s mission will not be financed by government-funded organizations. Instead, means of funding the mission include sponsorships and exclusive partnerships. Mars One is in discussion with several partners interested to participate in specific components of the mission or to partner in the STEM and university challenges. Mars One is also launching an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign that enables people to participate in this mission to Mars. Among other things, contributors will be granted voting rights for several mission decisions up for vote in the future, including the winners of the STEM and University Challenges.


Yes, they're still 'mission concept studies' but how plausible is it? Can they actually pull off this scheme now that there's experienced manufacturers interested and already flight-tested designs? If Lockheed Martin was somehow convinced, can it all be smoke and mirrors?
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vjkane
post Dec 12 2013, 01:47 AM
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QUOTE (Explorer1 @ Dec 10 2013, 02:32 PM) *
Yes, they're still 'mission concept studies' but how plausible is it? Can they actually pull off this scheme now that there's experienced manufacturers interested and already flight-tested designs? If Lockheed Martin was somehow convinced, can it all be smoke and mirrors?

It certainly seems to be a technically feasible mission. With Lockheed Martin rebuilding the Phoenix lander for the InSight mission.

The challenge, and part that makes me skeptical, is raising several hundred million dollars. That amount can be raised for business ventures and regularly is. For something with no immediate commercial payback, it becomes philanthropy. Comes down to securing a sugar daddy/momma or two.


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Paolo
post Dec 12 2013, 06:06 AM
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we have seen many proposed private lunar and deep space probes in the last 20 years. none managed to rise enough money to fly anything, even the cheapest ones. I don't see why this would be different
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djellison
post Dec 12 2013, 02:58 PM
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I see nothing in terms of a sound business plan, they've not even begun to hint at who will pay for it, what their return will be, which LV they'll use etc etc.

It's not going to happen.
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nprev
post Dec 12 2013, 03:37 PM
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Agreed. Furthermore, I doubt very much that Lockheed would consider launching a spacecraft on anything but a ULA booster (esp. if they somehow built it pro bono), and about the only company that might even consider doing this is SpaceX.


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A few will take this knowledge and use this power of a dream realized as a force for change, an impetus for further discovery to make less ancient dreams real.
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Paolo
post Dec 19 2013, 08:47 AM
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this, to the best of my knowledge, are the main solar system exploration events for 2014:

20 January: Rosetta exits from hibernation
March: Yutu end of primary mission
6 August: Rosetta enters orbit around Churyumov-Gerasimenko
10 August: ICE Earth flyby (possible orbit insertion?)
22 September: MAVEN enters orbit around Mars
24 September: MOM enters orbit around Mars
19 October: comet Siding Spring very close approach to Mars
11 November: Philae lands on Churyumov-Gerasimenko
December: launch of Hayabusa 2/PROCYON/Artsat 2/Shin'en 2
December: Chang'e 3 end of primary mission

I wasn't able to find the expected date of LADEE end of primary mission (in February or March, I believe) and lunar impact.
do you spot anything missing?
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tedstryk
post Jan 3 2014, 10:44 PM
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The C/2013 A1 Siding Springs Mars flyby is worth mentioning, in that MRO and company will essentially make a distant comet flyby.


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Paolo
post Jan 4 2014, 09:32 AM
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good suggestion! I have added it
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