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Pages 1-11

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From page 1...
... Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program A Midterm Report
From page 2...
... FIGURE S.1  Artist's impression of the Mars Science Laboratory entering the atmosphere of Mars in 2010. SOURCE: Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
From page 3...
... B -- Partially achieved the decadal goal, or made significant progress. C -- Made some progress toward meeting the decadal goal, or achieved a supporting objective.
From page 4...
... NASA's current planetary exploration program is highly productive, carrying out exciting missions and making fundamental discoveries. However, the committee awarded a downward trend arrow to the overall planetary exploration program, concluding that current progress is unlikely to continue at the present rate and that on its current course, NASA will not be able to fulfill the recommendations of the solar system exploration decadal survey.
From page 5...
... However, the current lack of approval of a Europa flagship mission, plus the lack of new Discovery mission opportunities, has led the committee to assess the trend for flight missions as downward at this time. The committee is also concerned about various pressures on future missions, including the increasing costs of launch and the lack of technologies required to accomplish the other missions recommended in the decadal survey.
From page 6...
... The committee assesses the Mars Exploration Program for the period 2000-2010 as meriting a grade of A However, the recommendations of the decadal survey and other NRC Mars reviews focus on the period out to 2017 and occasionally beyond.
From page 7...
... competition.) Mars Exploration Program Mars Exploration Program overall A ➜ Mars Science Laboratory 2009 Conduct Mars Science In development for 2009.
From page 8...
... In addition, NASA is encouraged to proceed to implementation with its plan for upgrading and revamping the Deep Space Network and to work aggressively to deal with the impending crisis in launch vehicles brought on by the planned retirement of the Delta II rocket, the spiraling costs of launch services, and uncertainty about the future availability of appropriately sized launch vehicles for smaller missions. Doug McCuistion, director, Mars Exploration Program, Planetary Science Division, Science Mission Directorate, NASA, "Mars Exploration Program Update," presentation to the committee, Washington, D.C., August 13, 2007.
From page 9...
... In Chapter 3, "Flight Missions" Recommendation:  To ensure that flagship mission costs do not negatively impact missions in other cost classes, NASA should apply sufficient resources to obtain good cost estimates in the earliest phases and rigorously review mission costs before selection. Recommendation:  NASA should continue studying possible flagship missions to both the inner and the outer planets as input to the next decadal study.
From page 10...
... Recommendation:  NASA should seek community review to carefully scrutinize the new Mars architecture and its budget implications in order to ensure that the value of the sample returned is worth the cost to the Mars Exploration Program. In Chapter 5, "Research and Analysis, Planetary Astronomy, and Flight Mission Data Analysis" Recommendation:  NASA should restore an adequate funding level for astrobiology research, based on consultation with the scientific community, that will lead to the achievement of the goals of the New Frontiers in the Solar System decadal survey.
From page 11...
... Prior to the next decadal survey, NASA should present the results of such a study to the science community. Recommendation:  NASA should make an assessment of which technologies will be required for Mars Sample Return and conduct an independent assessment of the analogous technology needs for the Moon, Venus, asteroids, and other targets.


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