[X] My Assistant

[Mariner9]

I have read a couple very vague references in recent months about the Mars program being 'de-emphasized'. At least once I saw something that sounded like JPL being told to just stop any planning efforts.

I personally always had mixed feelings about the Sample Return mission. The more we learned from the last few missions the more it seemed like we needed to learn before sinking a couple billion into a single "snatch and go" mission.

It seems from all I've read that Mars Sample Return was taken off the table for now. But does that mean Headquarters has said that there are no more Mars missions until furthur notice? Or does at least the next Mars Scout seem to be in plan? I would think that sometime in 2006 they would have to issue the AO for the 2011 time period.

If even Mars Scout is off the plan, I'm going to lose one more notch in my rapidly dropping respect for Dr. Griffin. I realize he's got to cut a few things to even have a prayer of developing the CEV, but aside from Juno (which just slipped a year) it seems like all planetary new starts have disappeared.

[Guest_BruceMoomaw_*]

I believed it myself, but Doug McCuistion told COMPLEX flatly that NASA is determined not to let MSL be delayed to 2011, because it's the current centerpiece of their Mars strategy. (He actually used the term "sacred cow".) For that reason, they're willing to pump more funds into it to allow it to stay on track for 2009. So, while it may yet get bumped into 2011, this definitely isn't "almost certain".

[BPCooper]

I believed it myself, but Doug McCuistion told COMPLEX flatly that NASA is determined not to let MSL be delayed to 2011, because it's the current centerpiece of their Mars strategy.  (He actually used the term "sacred cow".)  For that reason, they're willing to pump more funds into it to allow it to stay on track for 2009.  So, while it may yet get bumped in 2011, this definitely isn't "almost certain".

I don't think it's 100% official either, so you may be right. It was maybe a year ago that they ran stories on this supposed decision. It was indeed budget problems that they said was the reason. If they can get the funds to do it in 2009 I'm sure they will.