Planetary Science Decadal Survey
Encyclopedia
The Planetary Science Decadal Survey is a publication of the United States National Research Council
produced for NASA and other United States Government Agencies such as the National Science Foundation
. The document identifies key questions facing planetary science and outlines plans for space and ground based exploration ten years into the future. Missions to gather data to answer these big questions are described, prioritized where appropriate.
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, meteorite
s, and interplanetary dust).
Studies:
. The 5 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 Rover
s, established of 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 manned missions beyond Earth orbit.
mission was planned for 1995 to be followed up by one in 1998 to return samples to Earth for study. Study of primitive bodies such a comet or asteroid was recommended as a flyby mission of Apollo and Amor asteroid
.
United States National Research Council
The National Research Council of the USA is the working arm of the United States National Academies, carrying out most of the studies done in their names.The National Academies include:* National Academy of Sciences...
produced for NASA and other United States Government Agencies such as the National Science Foundation
National Science Foundation
The National Science Foundation is a United States government agency that supports fundamental research and education in all the non-medical fields of science and engineering. Its medical counterpart is the National Institutes of Health...
. The document identifies key questions facing planetary science and outlines plans for space and ground based exploration ten years into the future. Missions to gather data to answer these big questions are described, prioritized where appropriate.
2013-2022, Visions and Voyages for Planetary Science
Visions and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013 - 2022 (2011) was published on March 7, 2011. Draft versions of the document were presented at town hall meetings around the country, lunar and planetary conferences and made available publicly on the NASA website and via the National Academies Press. The report differed from previous reports in that it included "brutally honest" budgetary review from a 3rd party contractor. The report highlighted the proposed Mars Astrobiology Explorer Cacher (MAX-C) which seeks to return samples from Mars.The committee producing the survey was led by Steve Squyres
Steve Squyres
Steven W. Squyres is the Goldwin Smith Professor of Astronomy at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York. His research area is in planetary sciences, with a focus on large solid bodies in the solar system such as the terrestrial planets and the moons of the Jovian planets. Squyres is principal...
of Cornell University and included 5 panels focusing on the inner planets (Mercury
Mercury (planet)
Mercury is the innermost and smallest planet in the Solar System, orbiting the Sun once every 87.969 Earth days. The orbit of Mercury has the highest eccentricity of all the Solar System planets, and it has the smallest axial tilt. It completes three rotations about its axis for every two orbits...
, Venus
Venus
Venus is the second planet from the Sun, orbiting it every 224.7 Earth days. The planet is named after Venus, the Roman goddess of love and beauty. After the Moon, it is the brightest natural object in the night sky, reaching an apparent magnitude of −4.6, bright enough to cast shadows...
, and the Moon
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
), Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
(not including Phobos
Phobos (moon)
Phobos is the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. With a mean radius of , Phobos is 7.24 times as massive as Deimos...
and Deimos
Deimos (moon)
Deimos is the smaller and outer of Mars's two moons . It is named after Deimos, a figure representing dread in Greek Mythology. Its systematic designation is '.-Discovery:Deimos was discovered by Asaph Hall, Sr...
), the gas giant
Gas giant
A gas giant is a large planet that is not primarily composed of rock or other solid matter. There are four gas giants in the Solar System: Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune...
planets, satellites (Galilean satellites, Titan
Titan (moon)
Titan , or Saturn VI, is the largest moon of Saturn, the only natural satellite known to have a dense atmosphere, and the only object other than Earth for which clear evidence of stable bodies of surface liquid has been found....
, and other satellites of the giant planets) and primitive bodies (Asteroids, comets, Phobos
Phobos (moon)
Phobos is the larger and closer of the two natural satellites of Mars. Both moons were discovered in 1877. With a mean radius of , Phobos is 7.24 times as massive as Deimos...
, Deimos
Deimos (moon)
Deimos is the smaller and outer of Mars's two moons . It is named after Deimos, a figure representing dread in Greek Mythology. Its systematic designation is '.-Discovery:Deimos was discovered by Asaph Hall, Sr...
, Pluto
Pluto
Pluto, formal designation 134340 Pluto, is the second-most-massive known dwarf planet in the Solar System and the tenth-most-massive body observed directly orbiting the Sun...
/Charon
Charon (moon)
Charon is the largest satellite of the dwarf planet Pluto. It was discovered in 1978 at the United States Naval Observatory Flagstaff Station. Following the 2005 discovery of two other natural satellites of Pluto , Charon may also be referred to as Pluto I...
and other Kuiper belt objects, meteorite
Meteorite
A meteorite is a natural object originating in outer space that survives impact with the Earth's surface. Meteorites can be big or small. Most meteorites derive from small astronomical objects called meteoroids, but they are also sometimes produced by impacts of asteroids...
s, and interplanetary dust).
Studies:
- Mercury Lander Mission Concept Study
- Venus Mobile Explorer Mission Concept Study
- Venus Intrepid Tessera Lander Concept Study
- Venus Climate Mission Concept Study
- Lunar Geophysical Network Concept Study
- Lunar Polar Volatiles Explorer Mission Concept Study
- Near Earth Asteroid Trajectory Opportunities in 2020-2024
- Mars 2018 MAX-C Caching Rover Concept Study
- Mars Sample Return Orbiter Mission Concept Study
- Mars Sample Return Lander Mission Concept Study
- Mars 2018 Sky Crane Capability Study
- Mars Geophysical Network Options
- Mars Geophysical Network Concept Study
- Mars Polar Climate Concepts
- Jupiter Europa Orbiter (component of EJSM) Concept Study
- Io Observer Concept Study
- Ganymede Orbiter Concept Study
- Trojan Tour Concept Study
- Titan Saturn System Mission
- Saturn Atmospheric Entry Probe Trade Study
- Saturn Atmospheric Entry Probe Mission Concept Study
- Saturn Ring Observer Concept Study
- Enceladus Flyby & Sample Return Concept Studies
- Enceladus Orbiter Concept Study
- Titan Lake Probe Concept Study
- Chiron Orbiter Mission Concept Study
- Uranus and Neptune Orbiter and Probe Concept Studies
- Neptune-Triton-Kuiper Belt Objects Mission Concept Study
- Comet Surface Sample Return Mission Concept Study
- Cryogenic Comet Nucleus Sample Return Mission Technology Study
- Small Fission Power System Feasibility Study
2003-2013, New Frontiers in the Solar System
New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy 2003-2013 was published in 2003. The committee producing the survey was led by Michael J. BeltonMichael J. Belton
Michael J. Belton is President of Belton Space Exploration Initiatives and Emeritus Astronomer at the Kitt Peak National Observatory in Arizona. Belton served as the Chair of the 2002 Planetary Science Decadal Survey guiding NASA and other US Government Agencies plans for solar system exploration....
. The 5 panels focused on the inner planets, Mars
Mars
Mars is the fourth planet from the Sun in the Solar System. The planet is named after the Roman god of war, Mars. It is often described as the "Red Planet", as the iron oxide prevalent on its surface gives it a reddish appearance...
, the Giant planets, Large satellites and Astrobiology
Astrobiology
Astrobiology is the study of the origin, evolution, distribution, and future of life in the universe. This interdisciplinary field encompasses the search for habitable environments in our Solar System and habitable planets outside our Solar System, the search for evidence of prebiotic chemistry,...
. The survey placed heavy emphasis on Mars exploration including the Mars Exploration Rover
Mars Exploration Rover
NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Mission is an ongoing robotic space mission involving two rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, exploring the planet Mars...
s, established of the New Frontiers program
New Frontiers program
The New Frontiers program is a series of space exploration missions being conducted by NASA with the purpose of researching several of the Sun's planets including Jupiter, Venus, and the dwarf planet Pluto...
including New Horizons
New Horizons
New Horizons is a NASA robotic spacecraft mission currently en route to the dwarf planet Pluto. It is expected to be the first spacecraft to fly by and study Pluto and its moons, Charon, Nix, Hydra and S/2011 P 1. Its estimated arrival date at the Pluto-Charon system is July 14th, 2015...
mission to study Pluto and established programs in power and propulsion to lay a technological basis for programs in later decades including manned missions beyond Earth orbit.
1995 to 2015, Space Science in the Twenty-First Century, Imperatives for the Decades
While not titled as a decadal survey, a planetary science plan covering 1995-2015 was published by the Space Studies Board. The report recommended a focus on "Galileo-like missions to study Saturn, Uranus and Neptune" including a mission to rendezvous with Saturn's rings and study of Titan. It also recommended study of the moon with a "Lunar Geoscience Orbiter", a network of lunar rovers and sample return from the lunar surface. The report recommended a Mercury Orbiter to study not only that planet but provide some solar study as well. A "Program of Extensive Study of Mars" beginning with Mars PathfinderMars Pathfinder
Mars Pathfinder was an American spacecraft that landed a base station with roving probe on Mars in 1997. It consisted of a lander, renamed the Carl Sagan Memorial Station, and a lightweight wheeled robotic rover named Sojourner.Launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II booster a...
mission was planned for 1995 to be followed up by one in 1998 to return samples to Earth for study. Study of primitive bodies such a comet or asteroid was recommended as a flyby mission of Apollo and Amor asteroid
Amor asteroid
The Amor asteroids are a group of near-Earth asteroids named after the asteroid 1221 Amor. They approach the orbit of the Earth from beyond, but do not cross it. Most Amors do cross the orbit of Mars...
.