"One of the major factors for both Comet Hopper and for the Titan Mare Explorer, you know, were cost risks — cost and schedule risks," Grunsfeld told reporters today.
"The InSight mission had the highest probability — by enough margin that it distinguished itself — that it could actually be accomplished under the cost constraints that we have, and on the schedule," Grunsfeld added. "I don't think I need to tell you that in the current fiscal environment that's really a very important element, all other things being equal, as they were."
Back to the Red Planet
The selection of InSight may help reaffirm NASA's dedication to Mars exploration despite recent financial troubles. The White House's proposed 2013 federal budget cuts the agency's planetary science efforts by 20 percent, with much of the funding coming out of the Mars program.
As a result, NASA dropped out of the European-led ExoMars mission — which aims to launch an orbiter and a rover to the Red Planet in 2016 and 2018, respectively — and has begun downscaling its Mars program.
"The exploration of Mars is a top priority for NASA, and the selection of InSight ensures we will continue to unlock the mysteries of the Red Planet and lay the groundwork for a future human mission there," NASA Administrator Charles Bolden said in a statement.
"The recent successful landing of the Curiosity rover has galvanized public interest in space exploration, and today's announcement makes clear there are more exciting Mars missions to come," Bolden added.
- NASA Reveals Next Mars Landing Mission | Video
- 7 Biggest Mysteries of Mars
- The Boldest Mars Missions in History
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9 Comments
Add Commentno contest. TiME is so much more compelling than another Mars project.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisIs that because we know everything there is to know about Mars? Regardless, perhaps they can do your favourite project too.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThere wasn't really a choice between these 3 projects. The Mars mission is the only one that is reasonable within the NASA budget.
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thishint...with an almost 16 trillon dollar debt, everything for decades in Amerian space exploration is going to be 'all about the dollars'. The cookie jar is overflowing with IOUs.
@geojellyroll,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisThis is untrue. All the three missions proposed were capped at $425 M.
Orbital mechanics meant that this would be the last chance to launch a Titan lake lander that could send its finding directly to Earth without an expensive relay craft. There are multiple opportunity to launch a mission to Mars.
NASA is turning itself into MASA (Mars Atmosphere and Surface Administration) and it's painful to watch. The disproportion of funds allocated to Mars is disconcerting. In a period of budget cuts, after just spending $2.5 B on a great rover to Mars and after having cancelled all the proposed Titan, Europe, Enceladus or outer planets missions, the last thing we need is yet another Mars mission. Especially when there are other Mars orbiters and rovers already planned. Especially when the alternative was both inexpensive and much more compelling.
ESA seems to have much much more variety in their missions. They might not have the same technical capabilities, but they more than make up for it with a vastly more scientific, non Mars obsessed approach.
This is one of the darkest MASA days since SIM cancellation.
"This is untrue. All the three missions proposed were capped at $425 M."
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisHuh...?
Since when in Hades did 'capping' a cost bring NASA within budget? Wake up. it's 2112 and not 2002 ...another 1.1 trillion added to the debt this year.
NASA could not do a Titan mission within their budget and accomplish anything. It would be an empty spacecraft.
Yes, I too would prefer the Titan mission but the credit card is maxed out. All of those who put their head in the sand are going to see the negative consequences of adding another $3,000 per capita debt just this year. U.S. scientific infrastructure is going to be decimated.
@geojellyroll,
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisAll the missions proposed were Discovery Class Missions:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_Program
They all had very similar cost. That is the point, this was an inexpensive mission.
You are misinformed and you are probably confusing Titan Mare Explorer with the much more expensive Titan Saturn System Mission that included a Titan orbiter (postponed /cancelled).
In fact the official MASA reason for the cost was that " InSight provided the lowest technical and budgetary risk".
That's not surprising since the instruments are mature and the lander itself is a near copy of the successful Mars Phoenix lander. However, please note the circularity of the argument : since MASA spends so much more money on Mars missions, it is obvious that they are better at going there then anywhere else.
I'm curious, when the orbits of Mars and Earth have them on opposite sides of the Sun, do we lose communications with our instruments there, or is there a relay spacecraft?
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisBy the way this problem " The new mission, called InSight, will attempt to determine whether Mars' core is liquid or solid, and why the Red Planet's crust does not appear to be composed of drifting tectonic plates like Earth's is. Such information could help scientists better understand how rocky planets form and evolve, researchers said ". The Dynamic model of the globe has elementary solved a site www...-
Reply | Report Abuse | Link to thisSame observation as on earth. Focus of gravitoethertons or dark energy at center of mars causing extreme heat and molten core and if it is iron ,we may find magnetism also. Read balloon inside balloon theory.
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