DOCSLIB.ORG

Overview of Flagship Class Venus Mission Architectures

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Overview of Flagship Class Venus Mission Architectures 6th International Planetary Probe Workshop IPPW-6, Session III: Probe Missions to the Giant Planets, Titan and Venus OverviewOverview ofof FlagshipFlagship ClassClass VenusVenus MissionMission ArchitecturesArchitectures by Tibor S. Balint, James A. Cutts & Johnny H. Kwok Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Atlanta, Georgia IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, June 24, 2008 Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-1 Outline • Introduction – Venus STDT & Study Overview – A world of contrasts – Extreme Environments of Venus – Role of Mission Architectures • Typical mission architectures at Venus • Venus STDT Process – VSTDT Process Description – Science & Technology Traceability & FOM • Interim Study Results • Conclusions IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-2 Introduction Venus STDT & Study Overview • NASA is interested in a high science-return inner solar system Flagship mission in addition to Mars Sample Return – Target Launch: 2020 – 2025 – Life Cycle Mission Cost Range: $3-4B (FY’08) – Technology Maturation: TRL 6 by 2015 • Venus STDT formed on 1/8/08 by NASA – to define a Flagship-class mission to Venus • The combined team of scientists, engineers and technologists is tasked to – determine prioritized science objectives, – recommend suitable flagship class mission architectures, – assess cost, and other mission elements – recommend a Venus technology development roadmap • Final report due to NASA by late November 2008 IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-3 Introduction Acknowledgments – VSTDT & Study Team Atmosphere Subgroup Technology • David Grinspoon (DMNS) • Elizabeth Kolawa (JPL) • Anthony Colaprete (NASA Ames) • Viktor Kerzhanovich (JPL) • Sanjay Limaye (U. Wisconsin) • Gary Hunter (NASA GRC) • George Hashimoto (Kobe U.) • Steve Gorevan (Honeybee Robotics) • Dimitri Titov (ESA) • Eric Chassefiere (U. of Nantes--France) Ex Officio • Hakan Svedhem (ESA) • Ellen Stofan (VEXAG Chair) Geochemistry Subgroup • Tibor Kremic (NASA GRC) • Allan Treiman (LPI) • Steve Mackwell (LPI) JPL Venus Flagship Study Core Team • Natasha Johnson (NASA GSFC) • Johnny Kwok (Study Lead) • Tibor Balint (Mission Lead) Geology and Geophysics • Craig Peterson • Jim Head (Brown University) • Tom Spilker • Dave Senske (JPL) • Bruce Campbell (Smithsonian) NASA and JPL • Gerald Schubert (UCLA) • Jim Cutts (JPL) • Walter Kieffer (LPI) • Adriana Ocampo (NASA HQ) • Lori Glaze (NASA GSFC) IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-4 Introduction Venus: World of Contrasts Solar wind • Why is Venus so different from Earth? – What does the Venus greenhouse tell us about climate change? Atmosphere • Could be addressed with probes & balloons at various altitudes – How active is Venus? Climate • Could be addressed with orbiters & in-situ elements Crust – When and where did the water go? • Could be addressed with landers Core Ref: M. Bullock, D. Senske, J. Kwok, Venus Flagship Study: Exploring a World of Contrasts (Interim Briefing), NASA HQ, Ref: Image by E. Stofan & T. Balint May 9, 2008 Ref: VEXAG White Paper, 2007-2008 IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-5 Introduction The Extreme Environment of Venus • Greenhouse effect results in VERY HIGH SURFACE TEMPERATURES • Average surface temperature: ~ 460°C to 480°C • Average pressure on the surface: ~ 92 bars • Cloud layer composed of aqueous sulfuric acid droplets – at ~45 to ~70 km attitude • Venus atmosphere is mainly CO2 (96.5%) and N2 (3.5%) with: – small amounts of noble gases (He, Ne, Ar, Kr, Xe) – small amount of reactive trace gases (SO2, H2O, CO, OCS, H2S, HCl, SO, HF …) • Zonal winds: at 4 km altitude ~1 m/s; at 55 km ~60 m/s; at 65 km ~95 m/s • Superrotating prograde jets in the upper atmosphere Ref: C. Wilson, U of Oxford, Personal communications Ref: V. Kerzhanovich et al., "Circulation of the atmosphere IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, from the surface to 100 km", Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-6 Introduction Role of Mission Architectures e.g., - mission class (flagship, NF, Discovery) e.g., - NRC Decadal Survey; - mission cost cap - VEXAG goals & objectives - SSE Roadmap; mission lineup - Project science team - international collaboration measurements & investigations Science Programmatics Mission Architectures Technologies e.g., - extreme environments technologies e.g., - single or multi-element architecture - systems approaches: - single or dual launch tolerance, protection & hybrid systems - mission elements (orbiter, flyby, - atmospheric entry, descent, landing, balloon, lander, probe, plane) balloon inflation - lifetime (hours, weeks, years) - instrument technologies - telecom link (relay, Direct-to-Earth) Note: NF – New Frontiers mission class (assumed cost cap: ~$650M w/o launch vehicle) Flagship class (assumed cost cap: ~$2-4B); Discovery class (assumed cost cap: ~$450M) IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-7 Mission Architectures Potential Venus Mission Elements IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-8 Mission Architectures Grouping of Typical Venus Mission Architectures Earth-to-Venus Cruise (~180 days) Remote Sensing In-Situ Short Observation Long Observation Short Lived Long Lived Pioneer-Venus High altitude Flyby Spacecraft Orbiter type balloon Descent Probe (~60-65 km) Multi-Element Venera type Architectures Lander Balloon to Lower Clouds Venus In-Situ (~30-40 km) High Altitude Orbiter + Explorer Balloon + Multi-probes (VISE) Micro-probes Long Lived Seismic Lander Network Sample Return Balloon Network Venus Atmospheric Venus Mobile Mission Class Floor: Sample Return Explorer Free Return Trajectory (VME) Small mission -Air mobility, or Heritage Medium mission Venus Surface - Surface rover SSE Roadmap Sample Return Large mission recommended Ref: Cutts, Balint, “Overview of typical mission architectures”, 3rd VEXAG meeting, Crystal City, VA, Jan.11-12, 2007 IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-9 VSTDT Process Description Flowchart for the VSTDT FOM Process • Figure of Merit (FOM) Calibrate Rapid Cost Assessment combines Estimation for of Mission (13) Architecture Architecture – Science ranking Elements – Technology ranking Concepts – Mission architectures Rapid Costing – Programmatics (e.g., costs) for Representative Mission Architecture Concepts Venus STDT Assessment Assess Figure of Merit Science Map Investigation Science FOM (FOM) for 17 Flagship VEXAG Goals, to Instruments & for Investigations & Mission Architectures Objectives, & (from Science Score & Cost Measurements Arch. Elements Mission Architectures & Technology Score) Technology Rate Technologies Technology FOM EE Technologies for Arch. Elements Criticality / Maturity & Instrument Tec for Criticality & Maturity For Arch. Elements Science Subgroups To Recommend Desired Flagship Mission Architecture Concepts Phase 2: Redefine Flagship Class Proceed With Mission Architecture Recommended Concept, Endorsed by Ref: M. Bullock, D. Senske, J. Kwok, Venus Flagship Study: Mission Architecture(s) the 3 Science Subgroups Exploring a World of Contrasts (Interim Briefing), IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, NASA HQ, May 9, 2008 Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-10 VSTDT Process Description Science Traceability Matrix & Technology Assessment Investigations Measurement Technique & Instrument type Architecture Element • Two technology categories: –For operation and survivability of subsystems on architectural elements –For science measurements. subgroup • Technology Assessment Process: – STDT technology sub-group Geology & Geophysics identified major technology drivers for all potential missions – Technology Figure of Merit (FOM) was determined using two factors: subgroup Atmospheres • Technology criticality for a specific architecture element – assessed by the mission architecture team subgroup • Technology maturity Geochemistry – assessed by the technology sub-group Flagship Priority Scoring Instrument & Platform Goodness Scores (Column E) Directly answers 1 = Essential to have Major contribution Science & Technology FOMs were 2 = Highly Desirable Minor contribution or then used in the overall proposed 3 = Desirable supporting observations Priorities mission architecture selection 4 = Very Good to have Does not address IPPW-6 –IPPW-6 Balint, Architectures, Mission Venus Class of Flagship Overview June 24, 2008 Kwok, Cutts, Pre-decisional – for discussion purposes only Page-11 Architecture Element Figure of Merit (FOM) Summary of FOM & Costing for Mission Architecture Elements Architecture Element Multiple EntryProbe Multiple Near-Surface
Load more

Recommended publications
  • [email protected], Rectorville, VA 20140
    VEXAG Organizing Committee / Venus STDT Contact Info TWT - 12 JUne 08 Name Function Affiliation Address Phone Cell Fax E-Mail Adriana Ocampo NASA Program Executive NASA Headquarters Suite 3X63 202-358-2152 202-297-3530 202-358-3097 [email protected] NASA Headquarters 300 E-Street SW Washington DC 20546-0001 Ellen Stofan VEXAG Chair Proxemy, Inc. Windrush Farm 540-364-0092 540-364-1071 [email protected] P. O. Box 338 [email protected], Rectorville, VA 20140 David Grinspoon Earth-Venus Climate Denver Museum Dept. Of Space Sciences 303-370-6469 303-370-6005 [email protected], Connections of Nature and Science 2001 Coloradlo Blvd. Denver, CO 80205 Mark Allen Technology for Venus JPL Mail Stop 183-401 818-354-3665 818 393-4445 [email protected], In-Situ Exploration Focus Jet Propulsion Laboratory Group Lead 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109-8099 Steve Mackwell Planetary Formation and LPI Lunar and Planetary Institute 281-486-2128 281-389-3032 281-486-2127 [email protected] Evolution Focus Group Lead 3600 Bay Area Blvd. 281-486-2180 Houston, TX 77058 281-486-2100 Kevin Baines Atmospheric Evolution JPL Mail Stop 183-601 818-354-0481 818-667-2040 818-354-5148 [email protected] Focus Group Lead Jet Propulsion Laboratory 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109-8099 Jim Cutts Technology for Venus JPL Mail Stop 301-345 818-354-4120 626-375-9898 818-354-8333 [email protected] In-Situ Exploration Focus Jet Propulsion Laboratory Group Lead 4800 Oak Grove Drive Pasadena CA 91109-8099 Larry Esposito Earth-Venus Climate LASP - Univ of Colorado LASP - Univ of Colorado 303-492-5990 303-492-6946 [email protected] Connections 1234 Innovation Drive Boulder, CO 80303-7814 Mark Bullock Venus STDT Chair Southwest Research Inst.
    [Show full text]
  • GRAIL Twins Toast New Year from Lunar Orbit
    Jet JANUARY Propulsion 2012 Laboratory VOLUME 42 NUMBER 1 GRAIL twins toast new year from Three-month ‘formation flying’ mission will By Mark Whalen lunar orbit study the moon from crust to core Above: The GRAIL team celebrates with cake and apple cider. Right: Celebrating said. “So it does take a lot of planning, a lot of test- the other spacecraft will accelerate towards that moun- GRAIL-A’s Jan. 1 lunar orbit insertion are, from left, Maria Zuber, GRAIL principal ing and then a lot of small maneuvers in order to get tain to measure it. The change in the distance between investigator, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Charles Elachi, JPL director; ready to set up to get into this big maneuver when we the two is noted, from which gravity can be inferred. Jim Green, NASA director of planetary science. go into orbit around the moon.” One of the things that make GRAIL unique, Hoffman JPL’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) A series of engine burns is planned to circularize said, is that it’s the first formation flying of two spacecraft mission celebrated the new year with successful main the twins’ orbit, reducing their orbital period to a little around any body other than Earth. “That’s one of the engine burns to place its twin spacecraft in a perfectly more than two hours before beginning the mission’s biggest challenges we have, and it’s what makes this an synchronized orbit around the moon. 82-day science phase. “If these all go as planned, we exciting mission,” he said.
    [Show full text]
  • Summary Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting #8 Thursday— September 2, 2010 Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin
    Summary Venus Exploration Analysis Group (VEXAG) Meeting #8 Thursday— September 2, 2010 Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin Some 50 members of the Venus community met on Thursday—September 2, 2010 at the Monona Terrace Convention Center, Madison, Wisconsin. The goals of this meeting were to provide updates on the current and future Venus missions, on plans for completing the Next Decadal Survey, and on NASA plans for completing the current New Frontiers and Discovery Phase-A studies and proposals. Earlier in the week, VEXAG sponsored a very successful International Workshop on “Venus Our Closest Earth-like Planet: From Surface to Thermosphere - How does it work?” with significant international participation. Presentations at VEXAG Meeting #8 included: • A welcome and well-received report by Jim Green of NASA Headquarters on the status of NASA’s Planetary Science Program • A welcome and well-received report by Tibor Kremik of NASA Glenn Research Center on the status of NASA’s new Planetary Science Technology Panel • A welcome and well-received report by Ellen Stofan, Chair of the Inner Planets Panel on the current status of the Planetary Sciences Decadal Survey • Reports on the current status the European Venus Express, the Japanese Venus Climate Orbiter (Akatsuki), and Russian Venera missions • A report on VORTEX, the Venus In Situ Explorer Project, a student study by University of Alabama at Huntsville and College of Charleston • A report on NASA Goddard’s Venus Test Chamber There were eight open-microphone presentations covering diverse topics such as application of Stirling engines to Venus exploration, a prototype Venus seismometer, comparisons of Earth and Venus climate models, the possibility of measuring Venus rotation to improve both atmospheres and interior, use of Doppler lidar measurements to remotely sense Venus winds, the utility of magnetometers on Venus missions, observations from balloons, and a coordinated campaign for ground and spacecraft observations of Venus.
    [Show full text]
  • Solar System Exploration Strategic Road Map and Venus Exploration
    Solar System Exploration Strategic Road Map and Venus Exploration Presentation at Lunar and Planetary Science Conference James A. Cutts Solar System Exploration Directorate, JPL James R. Robinson Science Missions Directorate, NASA HQ March 16, 2005 03/16/2005 Predecisional - for discussion purposes only 1 Purpose of this briefing • To inform the Venus Science community about the status of the solar system exploration strategic planning process that is currently being carried out by NASA • To seek inputs on future priorities for Venus exploration for inclusion in the nation’s solar system exploration program for input to this process 03/16/2005 Predecisional - for discussion purposes only 2 Strategic Planning and Venus Exploration? • NASA is conducting a strategic planning activity that builds upon the President’s Vision for Space Exploration published in January 2004. • Three Strategic Road Map teams are formulating plans for exploration of the solar system. – Mars Exploration – Lunar Exploration – Solar System Exploration (covering Venus exploration) – co chaired by • Orlando Figueroa (Assoc Director, Science NASA HQ) • Scott Hubbard (Director, ARC) • Jonathan Lunine, University of Arizona and Chair of NASA Solar System Exploration subcommittee • The Solar System Exploration Road Map team is on a very aggressive schedule. It is scheduled to submit its report for review by the National Research Council by June 1, 2005 An important function of this plan will be to guide the NASA investment in new technologies and related capabilities over the next decade. 03/16/2005 Predecisional - for discussion purposes only 3 Strategic Road Map - Solar System Exploration Committee Members • Orlando Figueroa, NASA Science Mission Directorate co-chair G.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 National Press Club Headliners Luncheon with Ellen Stofan, Director, National Air and Space Museum Subject: the Future of T
    NATIONAL PRESS CLUB HEADLINERS LUNCHEON WITH ELLEN STOFAN, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM SUBJECT: THE FUTURE OF THE MUSEUM MODERATOR: DONNA LEINWAND OF THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB LOCATION: NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, HOLEMAN LOUNGE, WASHINGTON, D.C. TIME: 1:00 P.M. DATE: MONDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2018 (c) COPYRIGHT 2018, NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, 529 14TH STREET, WASHINGTON, DC - 20045, USA. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. ANY REPRODUCTION, REDISTRIBUTION OR RETRANSMISSION IS EXPRESSLY PROHIBITED. UNAUTHORIZED REPRODUCTION, REDISTRIBUTION OR RETRANSMISSION CONSTITUTES A MISAPPROPRIATION UNDER APPLICABLE UNFAIR COMPETITION LAW, AND THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB RESERVES THE RIGHT TO PURSUE ALL REMEDIES AVAILABLE TO IT IN RESPECT TO SUCH MISAPPROPRIATION. FOR INFORMATION ON BECOMING A MEMBER OF THE NATIONAL PRESS CLUB, PLEASE CALL 202-662-7505. ANDREA EDNEY: –Andrea Edney. A couple of really important announcements. The first one is, this is your device. This is your device on mute, vibrate, silence, et cetera. If your phone rings, I'm going to point at you on live television. So please take this opportunity to silence your cell phone now. Also, if you are on Twitter, we do encourage you to tweet during the program. Our hashtag today is #NPCLive. That's #NPCLive. And then also, you have on your table these fabulous cards. If you have questions for our speaker today, please write your questions on these cards. Please print or write as legibly as you can. If you write in cursive, your chance of my reading your question on TV is about the same as the Mega Millions lottery. [laughter] So please print. And then when you've written your question, you can pass it up to the head table, however you want to do it.
    [Show full text]
  • Graduate and Undergraduate Commencement May 8, 2021 Commencement Ceremony
    GRADUATE AND UNDERGRADUATE COMMENCEMENT MAY 8, 2021 COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY TO OUR GRADUATES Introduction of Platform Party Presentation of Colors and The National Anthem The day you have anticipated for so long has arrived – a day you dreamed of, planned for ROTC Joint Color Guard and worked toward. You have earned this day of honor and celebration, especially after a turbulent period none of us expected. Welcome Remarks With all you have learned to prepare you for your career, you have also mastered lessons Anette Karlsson, Ph.D. in living through challenge and sacrifice. Even from a distance, you were there for those Chancellor, Prescott Campus who needed to lean on your strength. And family, friends and faculty were strong for you, encouraging you with grace and goodwill. Remarks and Introduction of Speaker P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. You have inspired more pride and earned more respect than you realize. The 2021 Graduating Class would have been memorable even without the challenges created by President the world-wide pandemic. Commencement Address We look forward to seeing you continue to thrive professionally and personally. We have Ellen Stofan, Ph.D. witnessed the “proof of principle” in your accomplishments and contributions. Go Eagles! Under Secretary for Science and Research, Smithsonian Remarks Lon D. Moeller, J.D. Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost P. Barry Butler, Ph.D. Lon D. Moeller, J.D. Anette M. Karlsson, Ph.D. Graduating Class Speaker President Sr. Vice President for Chancellor, Prescott Campus Ashley Elliott Academic Affairs & Provost Bachelor of Science in Space Physics Remarks and Honors Dr.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 27 | Fall 2019
    ISSUE 27 H FALL 2019 THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMS AT THE JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM Breaking Gender Barriers: Kennedy Library Resources for National A Female Space Trainee Advocates for Women History Day in Space s students search for topics and resources for this year’s National History Day (NHD) theme, Breaking Barriers in History, they might find a Acompelling topic that captures their interest and propels their investigation of primary sources by delving into the Library’s vast Archives. A few suggested resources are presented here. The Berlin Wall: Impeding the Flow of Refugees At the end of World War II, the US, France, Great Britain, and the Soviet Union, divided Germany into two zones. The Soviet Union PHOTO COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL AIR AND SPACE MUSEUM. occupied East Germany and installed a rigidly controlled communist state. The other three Allies Geraldyne “Jerrie” Cobb, one of thirteen shared the occupation of West Germany and helped JOHN F. KENNEDY PRESIDENTIAL LIBRARY AND MUSEUM. women who successfully completed a privately- rebuild the country as a capitalist democracy. funded astronaut training program in the early The city of Berlin, located 200 miles inside East 1960s, urged President Kennedy to launch a woman into space. Germany, was also divided. Half of the city— West Berlin—was part of West Germany. Twenty years before Sally Ride On August 13, 1961, East Germany began became the first US female astronaut constructing a barrier to prevent the exodus of to launch into space, aviator Geraldyn “Jerrie” Cobb and twelve other East German refugees travelling to West Berlin.
    [Show full text]
  • Astrobiology and the Search for Life Beyond Earth in the Next Decade
    ASTROBIOLOGY AND THE SEARCH FOR LIFE BEYOND EARTH IN THE NEXT DECADE HEARING BEFORE THE COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS FIRST SESSION September 29, 2015 Serial No. 114–40 Printed for the use of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology ( Available via the World Wide Web: http://science.house.gov U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 97–759PDF WASHINGTON : 2016 For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800 Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001 COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE, SPACE, AND TECHNOLOGY HON. LAMAR S. SMITH, Texas, Chair FRANK D. LUCAS, Oklahoma EDDIE BERNICE JOHNSON, Texas F. JAMES SENSENBRENNER, JR., ZOE LOFGREN, California Wisconsin DANIEL LIPINSKI, Illinois DANA ROHRABACHER, California DONNA F. EDWARDS, Maryland RANDY NEUGEBAUER, Texas SUZANNE BONAMICI, Oregon MICHAEL T. MCCAUL, Texas ERIC SWALWELL, California MO BROOKS, Alabama ALAN GRAYSON, Florida RANDY HULTGREN, Illinois AMI BERA, California BILL POSEY, Florida ELIZABETH H. ESTY, Connecticut THOMAS MASSIE, Kentucky MARC A. VEASEY, Texas JIM BRIDENSTINE, Oklahoma KATHERINE M. CLARK, Massachusetts RANDY K. WEBER, Texas DON S. BEYER, JR., Virginia BILL JOHNSON, Ohio ED PERLMUTTER, Colorado JOHN R. MOOLENAAR, Michigan PAUL TONKO, New York STEPHEN KNIGHT, California MARK TAKANO, California BRIAN BABIN, Texas BILL FOSTER, Illinois BRUCE WESTERMAN, Arkansas BARBARA COMSTOCK, Virginia GARY PALMER, Alabama BARRY LOUDERMILK, Georgia RALPH LEE ABRAHAM, Louisiana DARIN LAHOOD, Illinois (II) C O N T E N T S September 29, 2015 Page Witness List ............................................................................................................. 2 Hearing Charter .....................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Planetary Science Decadal Survey 2009-2011
    PlanetaryPlanetary ScienceScience DecadalDecadal SurveySurvey 2009-20112009-2011 David H. Smith Space Studies Board, National Research Council Curation and Analysis Planning Team for Extraterrestrial Materials Houston, Texas, 6 October, 2009 OrganizationOrganization ofof thethe DecadalDecadal SurveySurvey SteeringSteering GroupGroup SteveSteve Squyres,Squyres, ChairChair LarryLarry SoderblomSoderblom,, ViceVice ChairChair ViceVice ChairsChairs ofof PanelsPanels 99 othersothers InnerInner PlanetsPlanets GiantGiant PlanetsPlanets PrimitivePrimitive BodiesBodies PanelPanel PanelPanel PanelPanel EllenEllen StofanStofan,, ChairChair HeidiHeidi Hammel,Hammel, ChairChair JosephJoseph VeverkaVeverka,, ChairChair StephenStephen MackwellMackwell,, ViceVice ChairChair AmyAmy Simon-Miller,Simon-Miller, ViceVice ChairChair HarryHarry Y.Y. McSweenMcSween,, ViceVice ChairChair 1010 othersothers 99 othersothers 1010 othersothers MarsMars GiantGiant PlanetPlanet SatellitesSatellites PanelPanel PanelPanel PhilipPhilip Christensen,Christensen, ChairChair JohnJohn Spencer,Spencer, ChairChair WendyWendy Calvin,Calvin, ViceVice ChairChair DavidDavid Stevenson,Stevenson, ViceVice ChairChair 1111 othersothers 1010 othersothers 2 OverallOverall ScheduleSchedule 2008-20112008-2011 2008 4th Quarter Informal request received, NRC approves initiation, Formal request received, Proposal to NASA. 2009 1st Quarter Funding received, Chair identified, Chair and vice chair appointed 2nd Quarter Steering Group appointed, Panels Appointed 3rd Quarter Meetings of the Steering
    [Show full text]
  • Dr. Ellen Stofan Planetary Scientist, Former Chief Scientist of NASA
    HOLD FOR RELEASE UNTIL PRESENTED BY WITNESS February 16, 2017 Statement of Dr. Ellen Stofan Planetary Scientist, Former Chief Scientist of NASA Before the Committee on Science, Space and Technology US House of Representatives Thank you for inviting me before this committee today. As the chairman remembers, I was delighted to come and speak about life in the universe with you in 2015. As a planetary scientist who has worked at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, at a university, at a small company, and at NASA, I can tell you that the strength of NASA lies in its people and its vision and mission: reaching for new heights and revealing the unknown for the benefit of humankind. At NASA, engineers, technologists and scientists work together to answer fundamental questions about the nature and fate of this planet, the solar system, the universe, how to move humans outward into the solar system, how to safely advance our aeronautics enterprise, and determine if there is life beyond Earth. These might seem like disparate challenges - but they are fundamentally linked in not just why we do them, but how we do them. NASA has exceled at this for over fifty years, and the agency truly stands on the brink of discovering life beyond this world, of moving humans to Mars, of safeguarding life on this planet through knowledge of our complex earth systems, and ushering in a new age of more efficient, safer air travel. NASA’s origin, and indeed, the first “A” in NASA, is aeronautics. Every U.S. aircraft flying today and every U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Mars 2020 Rover to Continue Search for Habitability by Mark Whalen Mission Will Demonstrate Collection and Storage of Samples for Return to Earth
    Jet AUGUST Propulsion 2013 Laboratory VOLUME 43 NUMBER 8 Mars 2020 rover to continue search for habitability By Mark Whalen Mission will demonstrate collection and storage of samples for return to Earth Planning for the 2020 Mars rover envisions a basic structure that capitalizes on the design and engineering work done for the Curiosity rover but with new science instruments selected through competition for different science objectives. As JPL celebrates the landing of Curiosity on Mars Scientist Ken Farley of Caltech. “It’s going to be a long croscopic levels to look for features that may have been one year ago in August, planning for a new mission to road, but it’ll be really important to our understanding formed by past life. deliver the next rover to the Red Planet is well under- Mars and the solar system when we get samples back.” Rather than creating powder of rock samples—as way. The mission’s suite of instruments will be determined Curiosity’s drill does—the drill on the 2020 rover will The Mars 2020 rover mission will take the next by next spring through a competitive announcement of extract cores from the uppermost few centimeters of steps in the search for whether the planet has ever opportunity. Meantime, a team working on defining the the surface of rock where life may have existed—for supported life by exploring a habitable environment mission’s science suggests that the rover include capa- example, at the site of a onetime lake. and gathering rock and soil samples for a possible bilities for unprecedented in-situ analysis of rock and soil The rover will deliver a cache of 25 to 30 samples of return to Earth by another future mission.
    [Show full text]
  • Issue 130, August 2012
    Curiosity Gets the Better of Mars In the early morning hours of August 6 (PST), a large robot the size of a small car landed on Mars. The landing of the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) was remarkable for several reasons. The complex and unique landing system —which worked beautifully — gave engineers and managers cold sweats as they imagined everything that could potentially go wrong. After all, Mars has had a reputation for eating robots on a regular basis since 1961, including an ill-fated Russian attempt late last year to land on the Mars moon Phobos. The joy (and relief) that greeted touchdown was palpable. The mission and landing represented an investment of $2.5 billion and many, many manhours of effort. It was indeed an accomplishment to be proud of. A major and perhaps unexpected L effect of the landing was the degree to which the public became involved. Hundreds of thousands of people followed the live streams on NASA TV as engineers monitored the landing, calling out each milestone. When thousands more gathered at public venues to watch the event live — including Times Square in New York City — it was evident that the drama of landing had captured the fascination of PCrowds watch The Toshiba Vision screen in Times Square during the the public. Although the rover landing of the Curiosity rover on Mars. Credit: Toshiba. will take months to reach its main scientific objectives, the mission will likely continue to hold the public’s imagination. The sight of the wheeled vehicle driving across Mars is something to which we can all relate on some level.
    [Show full text]