U.S. planetary exploration program technology implicationsAs a consequence of the widespread acceptance of the recommendations of the Solar System Exploration Committee, the U.S. Program for exploring the planets has entered a new phase. The objectives to be pursued involve a reduction of costs, while maintaining a high level of scientific return. Plans for the activities to be conducted in this new phase are related to a Core Program and to 'augmentation missions'. One part of the Core Program is concerned with the utilization of the technology, developed for earth-orbiting spacecraft, in missions within the inner solar system to targets ranging from Venus to the inner portion of the asteroid belt. However, modified earth-orbiting buses are not suitable for missions outside the inner solar system. For the second part of the Core Program, which is concerned with the outer solar system and small bodies, a modularized spacecraft based on Viking, Voyager, and Galileo technology will be developed. 'Augmentation missions' will be conducted when possible or desirable.
Document ID
19850031084
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Diaz, A. V. (NASA Office of Space Science and Applications, Solar System Exploration Div., Washington DC, United States)
Rea, D. G. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)