Publication of the United States National Research Council
Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary
Science and Astrobiology 2023 - 2032
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
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.
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]
Planetary Exploration, 1968-1975, published in 1968, recommended missions to Jupiter, Mars, Venus, and Mercury in that order of priority.[9]
Report of Space Science, 1975 recommended exploration of the outer planets.[10]
Strategy for Exploration of the Inner Planets, 1977–1987 was published in 1977.[11]
Strategy for the Exploration of Primitive Solar-System Bodies--Asteroids, Comets, and Meteoroids, 1980–1990 was published in 1980.[12]
A Strategy for Exploration of the Outer Planets, 1986-1996 was published in 1986.[13]
Space Science in the Twenty-First Century – Imperatives for the Decades 1995 to 2015, published in 1988, recommended a focus on "Galileo-like missions to study Saturn, Uranus and Neptune" including a mission to rendezvous with Saturn's rings and study 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 the Mars Pathfinder 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 as a comet or asteroid was recommended as a flyby mission of the Apollo and Amor asteroids.[14]
2003–2013, New Frontiers in the Solar System[edit]
Jupiter and Europa as viewed by New Horizons in 2007
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]
2013–2022, Visions and Voyages for Planetary Science[edit]
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]
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
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.
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]
