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Scientists Polled on Solar System Exploration Program Priorities



 
 
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Old April 25th 06, 04:36 PM posted to sci.space.news
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Default Scientists Polled on Solar System Exploration Program Priorities

SCIENTISTS POLLED ON SOLAR SYSTEM EXPLORATION PROGRAM PRIORITIES
(From Lori Stiles, University Communications, 520-621-1877)

- Tuesday, April 25, 2006

-------------------------------------------
Contact Information
Mark V. Sykes, Planetary Science Institute
520-622-6300

Michael J. Drake, UA Lunar and Planetary Lab
520-621-6962


Heidi B. Hammel, Space Science Institute
203-438-3506

-------------------------------------------

The Planetary Science Institute (PSI), in collaboration with the Lunar
and
Planetary Laboratory of The University of Arizona, the SETI Institute
and the
Space Science Institute, has conducted a survey of U.S.-based planetary
scientists to prioritize NASA solar system exploration programs across
spending
categories in the face of an uncertain future for NASA space science in
general.

Survey results are posted at
http://www.psi.edu. More than 1,000
responded to
the poll, which is the largest response ever (about 50 percent) to a
survey of
that community, said PSI Director Mark V. Sykes. PSI is a non-profit
planetary
research organization headquartered in Tucson, Ariz.

Respondents ranked NASA Research and Analysis (R&A) programs the top
funding
priority. Eighty-eight percent ranked R&A either first or second
priority.
Ninety-one percent said that R&A funding should be stable and never
used to
fund missions.

"The real issue is that half of the American workforce will be retired
10 years
from now, " said Regents' Professor Michael J. Drake, director of the
University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory and planetary
sciences
department. "If we are to remain competitive in space, we need to train
the
next generation of planetary scientists, and they are supported by R &
A
programs. That's the real issue. This is about young people, the
researchers of
the future."

R&A programs also are important because they return the greatest value
from
exisiting missions, Drake added. R&A programs are critical to
developing the
highest potential for new missions, regardless of frequency, he said.
"One
concludes from the survey that when budget climates are restrictive,
R&A
programs need to be protected first."

An important survey finding is the willingness of the planetary
community to
make sacrifices in the scheduling of its high priority Discovery-class
(small)
missions if needed to allow Flagship (large) and New Frontier-class
(medium)
missions.

More than half (58 percent) were willing to spread out opportunities
for
Discovery-class missions to accomplish this. Almost three-quarters (73
percent)
agreed to skip one or two Discovery- class mission opportunities as
well as a
New Frontier-class mission opportunity if such an action allowed a
Flagship
mission to be flown.

"The community clearly values large as well as small missions. Such a
mix is
needed to preserve American competitiveness in solar system
exploration," said
SSI Co-Director of Research Heidi Hammel. SSI is a non-profit space
research
institute headquartered in Boulder, Colo.

"The greatest danger facing American solar system exploration today is
the
current effort by NASA to transfer its funding to other enterprises
having
budget crises," Sykes said.

As a part of this, NASA has specifically targeted the survey's highest
priority
research programs for sharp reductions in its initial FY06 Operating
Plan and
FY07 budget proposal. Congressional approved is pending for both.

"Congress should direct NASA to reverse these transfers," Sykes said.
"Let's not
break what works."

 




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