Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the - Solar System ...

missions is needed. Such missions may include orbital, landed or mobile platforms that provide
significant science return in addressing one or more of the fundamental science questions laid out earlier
in this chapter.
• Technology development—The development of technology is critical for future studies of the
inner planets. Robust technology development efforts are required to bring mission enabling technologies
to TRL 6. The continuation of current initiatives is encouraged to infuse new technologies into Discovery
and New Frontiers missions through the establishment of cost incentives. These could be expanded to
include capabilities for surface access and survivability, particularly for challenging environments such as
the surface of Venus and the frigid polar craters on the Moon. These initiatives offer the potential to
dramatically enhance the scope of scientific exploration that will be possible in the next decade. In the
long term, infusion of new technologies will also reduce mission cost, leading to an increased flight rate
for competed missions and laying the groundwork for future flagship missions.
• Research support—A strong R&A program is critical to the health of the planetary sciences.
Activities that facilitate missions and provide additional insight into the solar system are an essential
component of a healthy planetary science program. An important opportunity for cross-disciplinary
research exists concerning the climates of Venus, Mars, and Earth
• Observing facilities—Earth- and space-based telescopes remain highly valuable tools for the
study of inner solar system bodies, often providing data to enable and/or complement spacecraft
observations. Support for the building and maintenance of Earth-based telescopes is an integral part of
solar system exploration. Chapter 10 contains a more complete discussion of observing facilities.
• Data archiving—Data management programs such as the PDS must evolve in innovative
ways as the data needs of the planetary community grow. Chapter 10 contains a more complete
discussion of archiving issues.
• Deep space communication—Systems must be maintained at the highest technical level to
provide the appropriate pipeline of mission data as band-width demands increase with improved
technology, as well as S-band capability to communicate from the surface of Venus. Chapter 10 contains
a more complete discussion of communications issues.
• International Cooperation—The development of international teams to address fundamental
planetary science issues, such as ILN and NLSI, is valuable. Continuing support by NASA for U.S.
scientists to participate in foreign missions through participating scientist programs and Mission of
Opportunity calls enables broader US participation in the growing international space community.
• Education and outreach—It is important that NASA strengthen both its efforts to archive past
education and public outreach efforts and its evaluations and lessons-learned activities. Through such an
archive, future education and public outreach projects can work forward from tested, evaluated curricula
and exercises.
These mission priorities, research activities, and technology development initiatives will be
assessed and prioritized in Chapters 9, 10, and 11, respectively.
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