Review of the Restructured Research and Analysis Programs of NASA's Planetary Science Division (2017) / Chapter Skim
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4 Linkage Between Planetary R&A and NASA PSD Missions
4 Linkage Between Planetary R&A and NASA PSD Missions
Pages 33-40
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From page 33... ...
For their presentations to the committee, the chairs of the analysis/assessment groups and the NASA center leads for planetary science were asked, in particular, to provide their perspectives and those of their communities on how effectively the current program elements enable research based on current and past missions, as well as pave the way for future missions (Appendix C)
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From page 34... ...
INTERPRET AND MAXIMIZE THE SCIENTIFIC RETURN FROM EXISTING MISSIONS The availability of sufficient resources to support the analytical effort required to extract knowledge from raw mission data is a key component of planetary science research that extends beyond the activities of the mission science team. In addition, maximizing scientific return from existing missions entails more than just data analysis and involves a range of other activities within Planetary R&A, such as modeling and theoretical studies, cartographic work, laboratory-based analysis and experimentation, ground-based telescopic observations, and field-based (analog)
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From page 35... ...
. to interpret and maximize the scientific return from existing missions." The committee's analysis paid particular attention to whether the scope of the current R&A program was sufficiently broad to encompass research derived from all mission data, past or present, and whether the scope of the current program elements allows that essentially any scientifically credible planetary research idea can be funded.
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From page 36... ...
These proposals included a number that address the science issues that support future missions, including fundamental research to enable those missions. Such research activity includes the following: explaining current observations, testing hypotheses, refining the questions and explanations, and proposing tests to be addressed by future missions.
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From page 37... ...
In particular, the committee is concerned about the level of funding for instrument development, sample-return technology development, research in environments on Earth that are analogous to those on other planetary bodies, and in situ resource utilization. The technical challenges of future missions, as outlined in the 2011 planetary science decadal survey, and the resources required to prepare technologies for flight and to maintain the needed scientific and technical expertise on mission timelines are considerable.
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From page 38... ...
SOURCE: Lisa Grossman, Icy moon explorer gets an Alaska road test, New Scientist, Issue 2979, July 23, 2014, https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg22329792-400-icy-moon-explorer-gets-an-alaska-road-test/. In its deliberations about the LARS program, which supports laboratory instrumentation and advanced techniques required for the analysis of returned samples, the committee became concerned that the program is not being sufficiently funded to meet the requirements of future missions that are clearly anticipated by NASA PSD in its Mars (especially Mars sample return)
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From page 39... ...
The currently active programs are described briefly in the section "Planetary Science Division R&A Program Elements" in Chapter 1. NOTE: MatISSE, Maturation of Instruments for Solar System Exploration; PICASSO, Planetary Instrument Concepts for the Advancement of Solar System Observations; TRL, technology readiness level.
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From page 40... ...
Recommendation: In making funding decisions for the various research and analysis program elements, NASA should consider the need to sustain critical scientific and technical expertise and the instrumen tal and facility capabilities required for scientific return on future missions, as discussed in the 2011 planetary science decadal survey. 11 The technology development "valley of death" is the dip in the curve of available funding versus technology maturity, where the incre mental cost to advance the technology increases and funding availability drops.
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