[X] My Assistant

[vjkane]

The most recent Aviation Week and Space Technology (9/8) has the following tidbit in a piece on NASA schedule delays:

"On the robotoic front, the testing schedule for a critical instrument for the Mars Science Laboratory -- dubbed SAM for Sample Analysis at Mars -- may delay launch of the advanced rover from its 2009 planetary window into 2011."

[Burmese]

Given the ongoing series of reported delays and setbacks/redesigning they have had with MSL, I would sincerely -hope- they bump it to 2011. Everyone might recall Steve Squyres talking about how the development schedule for the MER rovers was right up against the limit, and as well caused considerable emotional stress/damaged personal relationships, etc.. and that any new projects should never be developed under such time pressure. Well, one can look at the development schedule for MSL by comparison and you don't have to be a rocket scientist to see the red warning lights. What I fear the most is that the project managers will just keep sitting down in meetings and talking themselves into believing they can hit the target dates because they refuse to acknowledge the elephant in the room, that being the fear of 'missing' a launch slot to Mars. I certainly hate to see a missed launch window but doing so is far better than having a project the size of MSL fail due to being rushed out. It is also another good reason for JPL to develop some 'back pocket' project that could be energized and brought up to speed on short notice to fill a slot in the event of another project being delayed. Something simple, like a spare MER that is cheap and proven and they have lots of experience with and support already in place for.

[djellison]

like a spare MER that is cheap

There is no spare MER. MER was not cheap. There is nothing to launch it on. And given that money problems already exist in the Mars program - what, exactly, do you want to use to buy it all?


Doug