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Europa New Frontiers Mission? (Or why I like the Europa Clipper concept even more now)
Posted by Van Kane on 2014/01/07 05:14 CST | 3 comments
Europa remains a top priority for a future mission to explore whether it could host life. While the Europa Clipper mission, remains the current front runner, a senior NASA manager has suggested that the agency may look at still lower cost options. Van Kane looks at what those options might be.
NASA’s New Planetary Mission Woes
Budget cuts slow down the rate of new missions
Posted by Van Kane on 2013/12/27 04:49 CST | 2 comments
NASA’s planetary science program depends on regular missions to solar system bodies to gather data. A combination of budget cuts and previous commitments to develop missions currently in the pipeline means that development of follow on missions may slow to a crawl. Van Kane looks at the current situation and NASA’s plans and then look at options the agency may consider if budgets remain tight into the next decade.
Europa: No Longer a "Should," But a "Must"
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/12/12 07:51 CST | 10 comments
We've waited long enough, Europa cries out for exploration and discovery. It's time to heed that cry.
Top NASA Scientists Grapple with Budget Cuts
A struggle to keep new missions coming
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/12/10 05:52 CST | 3 comments
Ellen Stofan, NASA's Chief Scientist, and John Grunsfeld, the head of the Science Mission Directorate and a Hubble repair astronaut, highlighted recent NASA science discoveries at the American Geophysical Union conference in San Francisco.
An Open Letter to President Barack Obama
Mr. President, be bold and embrace a vision of planetary exploration at NASA
Posted by Bill Nye on 2013/12/05 06:15 CST | 16 comments
Bill Nye writes President Obama arguing that the President should embrace a bold future of planetary exploration.
NASA Just Cancelled its Advanced Spacecraft Power Program
The Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Generator was to use less Plutonium for cheaper missions.
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/11/15 04:06 CST | 32 comments
The Advanced Stirling Radioisotope Program (ASRG) was just cancelled by NASA. This was to be the saving grace for Plutonium-238 availability, as it was a much more efficient way to generate electricity than classic RTG systems.
Europe Bypasses Solar System for Upcoming Science Missions
Posted by Van Kane on 2013/11/06 08:44 CST | 3 comments
The European Space Agency has selected two astrophysics observatories as its next large science missions, overlooking every proposed planetary mission. ESA's current selection of planetary missions, however, means it will still be a major player in solar system exploration for the next two decades.
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/10/29 05:42 CDT | 3 comments
An update from University of Strathclyde researchers about the Planetary Society sponsored laboratory Laser Bees asteroid deflection project including a new laser and other lab equipment, and the start of new related projects.
Google+ Hangout with ESA about Europe's Mars exploration
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/10/04 09:00 CDT
The European Space Agency invited me to join Mars Express project scientist Olivier Witasse, and spacecraft oeprations manager Michel Denis for a Hangout on Europe's recent and future exploration of Mars and Phobos.
The "Starship Century" Beckons
Gregory and James Benford return to Planetary Radio
Posted by Mat Kaplan on 2013/10/01 10:30 CDT
The Benford brothers provide inspiration and hard fact in their excellent new anthology about interstellar travel.
Europe Will Select Its Next Major Science Mission in November
Posted by Van Kane on 2013/09/25 01:22 CDT | 2 comments
The European Space Agency will announce two major science missions this November, one of which is likely to be devoted to solar system exploration.
Small Could be Beautiful - Planetary SmallSats
Posted by Van Kane on 2013/08/23 11:05 CDT | 4 comments
A new breed of small planetary spacecraft may allow for more frequent flights to the planets for highly focused missions.
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/07/11 06:17 CDT | 4 comments
For those wishing to bore into more details of our Laser Bees project itself, graduate student Alison Gibbings from the University of Strathclyde has sent their technical paper that resulted from the 2013 Planetary Defense Conference.
Dueling Op-Eds on NASA's Asteroid Redirect Mission
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/07/11 01:29 CDT | 9 comments
NASA Administrator Bolden and the Chairman of the House Science Committee published opposing op-eds in The Hill newspaper today, illustrating the uphill battle NASA faces to sell Congress on this mission.
Mars 2020 Science Announcement Live-blog
NASA's next Mars rover now has a mission
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/07/09 01:57 CDT | 6 comments
Follow along as NASA reacts to the recommendations of the science definition team for the next Mars rover.
Uranus or Bust (and on a budget)
Posted by Van Kane on 2013/07/09 12:38 CDT | 3 comments
New plans may make a mission to Uranus affordable within NASA's new, constrained budget.
Planetary Society Hangout: Arkyd Telescopes, Planetary Resources, Chris Lewicki
Thursday, Jun 27, noon PDT/1900 UTC
Posted by Bruce Betts on 2013/06/27 11:15 CDT | 2 comments
We talked to Chris Lewicki, President of Planetary Resources, about their upcoming Arkyd telescopes including one for the public, asteroid mining, and more. Hosted by Bruce Betts with Jennifer Vaughn.
POSTPONED: Planetary Society Hangout, Planetary Resources' Chris Lewicki
Posted by Emily Lakdawalla on 2013/06/05 11:23 CDT
The Hangout has been postponed because of technical difficulties. Stay tuned for rescheduling information.
NASA Administrator Highlights Advanced Propulsion Systems at JPL
An ion engine will be used on the proposed asteroid retrieval mission
Posted by Casey Dreier on 2013/05/23 06:18 CDT | 6 comments
Charles Bolden stopped by JPL to highlight research being done on advanced propulsion techniques that would be used in the proposed asteroid retrieval mission.
Report from the Starship Century Conference: Tuesday
Posted by Jon Lomberg on 2013/05/22 06:54 CDT | 5 comments
This week Jon Lomberg is attending the Starship Century conference, which brings together scientists, writers, and futurists to imagine the future of interstellar travel. Here he reports on presentations by Freeman Dyson, Peter Schwartz, Robert Zubrin, Geoff Landis, Neal Stephenson, and Patti Grace Smith.
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