Assessment of NASA's Mars Architecture 2007-2016 (2006) / Chapter Skim
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2 NRC Strategies, Priorities, and Guidelines for the Exploration of Mars
2 NRC Strategies, Priorities, and Guidelines for the Exploration of Mars
Pages 10-23
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From page 10... ...
The decadal survey envisions a very active and balanced Mars Exploration Program that would substantially contribute to an integrated understanding of the formation and evolution of the solar system. This is demonstrated by the fact that, although down-sized from what was considered just a year ago, the proposed architecture addresses key questions associated with all four of the crosscutting themes of the survey.
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From page 11... ...
A key SSE decadal survey question associated with this theme that is addressed by exploring Mars is the following: · How do the processes that shape the contemporary character of planetary bodies operate and interact? In response to the question, How does the Mars Exploration Program fit into the overall goals for the solar system as defined by the SSE decadal survey?
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From page 12... ...
THE MARS ARCHITECTURE AND THE SSE DECADAL SURVEY'S MARS EXPLORATION GOALS Is the Mars architecture reflective of the strategies, priorities, and guidelines put forward by the NRC's solar system exploration decadal survey? The SSE decadal survey recommended a Mars exploration program (Appendix A)
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From page 13... ...
The SSE decadal survey identified the following future steps as being of the greatest importance for advancing understanding of Mars as a potential abode of life: 1. Sample return missions will ultimately be required to permit definitive tests in terrestrial laboratories for present and past life on Mars; robotic missions preceding the sample return missions will assist in locating the most fruitful sites to be sampled.
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From page 14... ...
. The proposed architecture will make important contributions to addressing the SSE decadal survey's theme, Mars as a potential abode of life.
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From page 15... ...
Similarly, if the network stations include a trace-gas-analysis capability, then they can potentially contribute to understanding of whether or not there might be extant life on Mars. Water, Atmosphere, and Climate on Mars A second unifying theme for Mars exploration identified by the SSE decadal survey concerns Mars's water, atmosphere, and climate.
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From page 16... ...
Given a full complement of appropriate aeronomy instruments, the proposed MSTO mission could go a long way toward meeting this objective. The proposed Mars architecture does a reasonably good job of addressing the key questions relating to the theme of water, atmosphere, and climate on Mars but not, necessarily, in the manner envisaged by the authors of the SSE decadal survey.
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From page 17... ...
However, the nature of the deep interior, its degree of activity, the state and evolution of the core, and the chronology of the crust are not addressed by any of the proposed missions. The architecture's ability to address these key scientific topics is hindered by the absence of two high-priority Mars missions identified by the SSE decadal survey, Mars Sample Return and the Mars Long-Lived Lander Network.
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From page 18... ...
The committee notes, in passing, that a Mars sample return mission has been a fundamental element of the Mars exploration strategy enunciated by the Space Studies Board for the last three decades.17-22 It is likely that an appropriately instrumented MSTO will be able to address the goals of the fifth of the SSE decadal survey's missions, the Mars Upper Atmosphere Orbiter. The committee cannot be more specific at this time because much depends on the exact scope and instrument complement of missions such as MSTO, AFL, and the Mid Rovers.
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From page 19... ...
Finally, a Mars sample return mission has the potential to yield samples uniquely capable of addressing all four MEPAG goals and multiple objectives. The committee agrees that issues of cost26 and technical readiness imply that a sample return mission will fall beyond the horizon of the coming decade.
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From page 20... ...
In this respect, NASA's proposed Mars exploration architecture is an inadequate implementation of MEPAG goals. THE MARS ARCHITECTURE AND OTHER NASA PLANS Is the Mars architecture reflective of the strategies, priorities, and guidelines put forward in other NASA documents such as NASA's 2006 strategic plan and, in particular, the Vision for Space Exploration?
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From page 21... ...
However, the absence of a sample return mission and a geophysical/ meteorological network mission runs counter to the recommendations of the SSE decadal survey and significantly reduces the architecture's scientific impact. Other topics of concern include the lack of welldefined mission parameters and scientific objectives for the MSTO, AFL, and Mid Rover missions; issues
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From page 22... ...
Recommendation: Consider delaying the launch of the Astrobiology Field Laboratory until 2018 to permit an informed decision of its merits and the selection of an appropriate instrument complement in the context of a mature consideration of the results from the Mars Science Laboratory and other prior missions. Recommendation: Establish science and technology definition teams for the Astrobiology Field Laboratory, the Mars Science and Telecommunications Orbiter, the Mid Rovers, and the Mars Long-Lived Lander Network as soon as possible to optimize science and mission design in concert with each other.
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From page 23... ...
Given the Mars Exploration Program's current budget, a Mars sample return mission would likely require that NASA bank the resources of three to five Mars launch opportunities. Implementing such a strategy would have numerous scientific, technical, programmatic, political, and budgetary pitfalls.
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