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Publication of the United States National Research Council From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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.
 | |
| Author | National Academy Space Studies Board |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Genre | Astronomy |
| Publisher | United States National Research Council |
| Published | April 19, 2022 |
| Media type | Paperback, PDF |
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,[3] and one in 2022 for 2023 to 2032.[6] The survey for 2023 to 2032 was released on April 19, 2022.[7][8]
New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy, published in 2003, mapped out a plan for the decade from 2003 to 2013.[5] 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:[5]
Primitive bodies:
Inner planets:
Mars:
Giant planets:
Large satellites:
Primitive bodies:
Mars:
Outer planets:
Large satellites:
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.
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.[15] The Mars mission was given highest priority, followed by the Europa mission.[16]
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.[15] It only recommended the rover mission if it could be done cheaply enough (US$2.5 billion).[15]
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.
Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032 (2022) was published on April 19, 2022.[8]
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.[21]
The report recommended several different possible mission concepts for the sixth New Frontiers mission:[21]
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