Planetary Science Decadal Survey Explained

Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for PlanetaryScience and Astrobiology 2023 - 2032
Author:National Academy Space Studies Board
Country:United States
Language:English
Genre:Astronomy
Publisher:United States National Research Council
Pub Date:April 19, 2022
Media Type:Paperback, PDF

The Planetary Science Decadal Survey is a serial publication of the United States National Research Council produced for NASA and other United States Government Agencies such as the National Science Foundation.[1] The documents identify key questions facing planetary science and outlines recommendations for space and ground-based exploration ten years into the future. Missions to gather data to answer these big questions are described and prioritized, where appropriate.[2] [3] [4] Similar decadal surveys cover astronomy and astrophysics, earth science, and heliophysics.

As of 2022 there have been three "Decadals", one published in 2002 for the decade from 2003 to 2013,[5] one in 2011 for 2013 to 2022, and one in 2022 for 2023 to 2032.[6] The survey for 2023 to 2032 was released on April 19, 2022.[7] [8]

Before the decadal surveys

2003–2013, New Frontiers in the Solar System

New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy, published in 2003, mapped out a plan for the decade from 2003 to 2013. The committee producing the survey was led by Michael J. Belton. Five panels focused on the inner planets, Mars, the giant planets, large satellites and astrobiology. The survey placed heavy emphasis on Mars exploration including the Mars Exploration Rovers, established the New Frontiers program including New Horizons mission to study Pluto and established programs in power and propulsion to lay a technological basis for programs in later decades including crewed missions beyond Earth orbit.

The paper suggested that NASA should prioritize the following missions:

Medium-class missions

Primitive bodies:

Inner planets:

Mars:

Giant planets:

Large satellites:

Large-class missions

Primitive bodies:

Mars:

Outer planets:

Large satellites:

2013–2022, Visions and Voyages for Planetary Science

Visions and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013 – 2022 (2011) was published in prepublication form on March 7, 2011,[4] and in final form later that year.[1] Draft versions of the document were presented at town hall meetings around the country, at lunar and planetary conferences, and made available publicly on the NASA website and via the National Academies Press.[4] The report differed from previous reports in that it included a "brutally honest" budgetary review from a 3rd party contractor.

Flagship missions

The report highlighted a new Mars rover, a mission to Jupiter's moon Europa, and a mission to Uranus and its moons as proposed Flagship Missions. The Mars mission was given highest priority, followed by the Europa mission.[15]

The Mars rover proposal was called MAX-C and it would store samples for eventual return to Earth, but the method of return was left open.[16] It only recommended the rover mission if it could be done cheaply enough (US$2.5 billion).[16]

Studies

The committee producing the survey was led by Steve Squyres of Cornell University and included 5 panels focusing on the inner planets (Mercury, Venus, and the Moon), Mars (not including Phobos and Deimos), the gas giant planets, satellites (Galilean satellites, Titan, and other satellites of the giant planets) and primitive bodies (asteroids, comets, Phobos, Deimos, Pluto/Charon and other Kuiper belt objects, meteorites, and interplanetary dust).[17] Mission & Technology Studies:[18]

The recommendation for the New Frontiers program was a selection from one of Comet Surface Sample Return, Lunar South Pole-Aitken Basin Sample Return, Saturn Probe, Trojan Tour and Rendezvous, and Venus In Situ Explorer.[19] Then another selection adding Io Observer, Lunar Geophysical Network[19] (for NF 4 and 5).[19] In the 2011 response from NASA to the review, NASA supported the New Frontiers recommendations.[20] The first three New Frontiers missions include New Horizons to Pluto flyby, the Juno Jupiter orbiter, and the OSIRIS-REx near-Earth orbit sample return mission.

2023–2032, Origins, Worlds, and Life

Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 (2022) was published on April 19, 2022.

Flagship Missions

The report recommended the Uranus Orbiter and Probe as the highest priority new Flagship Mission, and the Enceladus Orbilander as the second-highest. It recommended continuing the ongoing Mars Sample Return program as the highest priority overall, subject to cost restraints.

New Frontiers Program

The report recommended several different possible mission concepts for the sixth New Frontiers mission:[21]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. National Academy of Sciences, National Academies Press, http://www.nap.edu/download.php?record_id=13117, Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013–2022, 2011; . Retrieved February 23, 2015
  2. STATEMENT OF TASK. Planetary Science Decadal Survey: 2013-2022.
  3. Web site: What is the Decadal Survey. Planetary Society. February 22, 2015. live. https://web.archive.org/web/20150320224924/http://www.planetary.org/get-involved/be-a-space-advocate/become-an-expert/what-is-the-decadal-survey.html. 2015-03-20.
  4. Web site: 2013 Decadal Survey and NASA Planetary Science (Prepublication version). NASA. February 22, 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20110721054020/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/2013decadal/. July 21, 2011. live.
  5. Book: New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy. 2002-07-11. en.
  6. Book: Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 . 2022 . National Academies Press . 978-0-309-47578-5 . 800 . 10.17226/26522 . 248283239 . Prepublication . 30 April 2022.
  7. Web site: Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey 2023-2032: Public Release of the Survey Report. 2022-04-01. www.nationalacademies.org.
  8. Web site: Report Identifies Priority Planetary Science Missions, Planetary Defense Efforts, and Strategic Investments for the Next Decade. 2022-04-19 . National Academies.
  9. Book: Planetary Exploration, 1968-1975. Space Studies Board. 1968. 254442711.
  10. Book: Report on Space Science. Space Studies Board. 1976. 0-309-12347-X. 10.17226/12383.
  11. Book: Strategy for Exploration of the Inner Planets, 1977–1987. Space Studies Board. 1978. 0-309-12343-7. 10.17226/12379.
  12. Book: Strategy for the Exploration of Primitive Solar-System Bodies--Asteroids, Comets, and Meteoroids, 1980–1990. Space Studies Board. 1980. 0-309-12336-4. 10.17226/12372.
  13. Book: A Strategy for Exploration of the Outer Planets, 1986-1996. The National Academies Press. 1986. 10.17226/12345. 2060/19870014948 . 978-0-309-12310-5 .
  14. Book: Space Science in the Twenty-First Century – Imperatives for the Decades 1995 to 2015. Space Studies Board. 1988. 978-0-309-03885-0.
  15. Web site: NRC Planetary Decadal Survey on NRC PLANETARY DECADAL SURVEY 2013-2022 - live streaming video. livestream.com. 2019-09-15. https://web.archive.org/web/20150205002121/http://www.livestream.com/2011lpsc/video?clipId=pla_18e48f98-4a78-4acc-ad2a-29c7a8ae326c. 2015-02-05. dead.
  16. News: Lean U.S. missions to Mars, Jupiter moon recommended. 7 March 2011. Reuters. 8 March 2011.
  17. Web site: Planetary Exploration 2013–2022: Scientists are ready, what about you?. Kunio M.. Sayanagi. ArsTechnica. March 14, 2011. March 21, 2011.
  18. http://sites.nationalacademies.org/SSB/SSB_059331 Planetary Science Decadal Survey Mission & Technology Studies
  19. Decadal Executive Summary . dead . Planetary Science Decadal Survey . 3 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170201012824/https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/multimedia/downloads/Decadal_Exec_Summary.pdf . 1 February 2017 . 30 December 2017.
  20. Kennel. Charles. Planetary Science Division Response to the Planetary Science Decadal Survey. July 29, 2011. 30 December 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170107170232/http://solarsystem.nasa.gov/docs/PSD_response_to_DS_Final.pdf. 7 January 2017. dead.
  21. Web site: National Academies of Sciences . Engineering . The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 . 2022-04-19 . nap.nationalacademies.org . en.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Planetary Science Decadal Survey".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.