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

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ef<strong>for</strong>ts, can help assure compatibility of scientifically rigorous educational materials with state-bystate<br />

curriculum needs. NASA’s ef<strong>for</strong>ts leverage <strong>the</strong> agency’s expertise <strong>and</strong> engag<strong>in</strong>g content, <strong>and</strong><br />

have a strong record of produc<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>novative curricula <strong>for</strong> schools <strong>and</strong> programs <strong>for</strong> o<strong>the</strong>r venues. 10<br />

NASA INSTRUMENTATION AND INFRASTRUCTURE<br />

Instrument Development<br />

<strong>Planetary</strong> missions rely heavily on technology. Nowhere is this more true than <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong><br />

technology <strong>for</strong> new scientific <strong>in</strong>strumentation, which can revolutionize <strong>the</strong> science returned by a<br />

mission. Chapter 11 conta<strong>in</strong>s an <strong>in</strong>-depth discussion of technology development <strong>for</strong> planetary<br />

missions, <strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g new scientific <strong>in</strong>struments. In particular, that chapter advocates a dedicated<br />

technology fund<strong>in</strong>g l<strong>in</strong>e that, among o<strong>the</strong>r th<strong>in</strong>gs, will fill <strong>the</strong> need to develop new flight <strong>in</strong>struments<br />

to a higher level of technological read<strong>in</strong>ess than has been <strong>the</strong> norm <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> past. NASA’s <strong>Planetary</strong><br />

Instrument Def<strong>in</strong>ition <strong>and</strong> Development Program (PIDDP) has been very successful <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>itiat<strong>in</strong>g<br />

many new <strong>in</strong>strument concepts <strong>and</strong> matur<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong>m to low technology read<strong>in</strong>ess levels (TRL). The<br />

technology program called <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong> Chapter 11 will provide <strong>the</strong> fund<strong>in</strong>g to br<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> most promis<strong>in</strong>g<br />

low-TRL <strong>in</strong>strument concepts to <strong>the</strong> po<strong>in</strong>t where <strong>the</strong>y can be reliably selected <strong>for</strong> flight, reduc<strong>in</strong>g<br />

mission cost <strong>and</strong> schedule risk.<br />

Each planetary environment is unique, <strong>and</strong> each <strong>in</strong>strument flown on a planetary mission<br />

must be customized to some degree <strong>for</strong> <strong>the</strong> mission <strong>and</strong> planetary target. Every future mission will be<br />

enabled or enhanced by improvements <strong>in</strong> <strong>in</strong>strument m<strong>in</strong>iaturization <strong>and</strong> advanced electronic<br />

component design. Both remote <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>-situ <strong>in</strong>struments will benefit from improved technologies <strong>and</strong><br />

components. Significant development is needed, <strong>in</strong> particular, <strong>for</strong> <strong>in</strong>-situ <strong>in</strong>struments <strong>for</strong> sample<br />

selection <strong>and</strong> h<strong>and</strong>l<strong>in</strong>g, age dat<strong>in</strong>g, organic detection <strong>and</strong> characterization, isotopic identification, <strong>and</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>struments that function <strong>in</strong> extreme environments of temperature, pressure <strong>and</strong> high radiation. Semiautonomous<br />

sample h<strong>and</strong><strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> manipulation offers significant challenges <strong>in</strong> any environment, <strong>and</strong><br />

operation <strong>in</strong> extreme environments makes it all <strong>the</strong> more challeng<strong>in</strong>g.<br />

The mission studies per<strong>for</strong>med <strong>for</strong> this decadal survey (Appendix G) resulted <strong>in</strong> over 50<br />

specific <strong>in</strong>struments cited <strong>in</strong> strawman payloads. These <strong>in</strong>struments range widely <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong>ir design<br />

requirements due to <strong>the</strong> unique conditions of each target body. Examples of <strong>the</strong> most commonly<br />

mentioned measurements <strong>and</strong> <strong>in</strong>strumentation <strong>and</strong> selected areas where development or<br />

improvements should be supported are summarized <strong>in</strong> Table 10.1. This table is not <strong>in</strong>tended to be<br />

comprehensive, but only representative. All of <strong>the</strong>se <strong>in</strong>strument types are c<strong>and</strong>idates <strong>for</strong> future<br />

development under <strong>the</strong> technology program described <strong>in</strong> Chapter 11. It is, of course, important <strong>for</strong><br />

<strong>in</strong>strument development fund<strong>in</strong>g to be tied to specific future missions <strong>and</strong> goals.<br />

For fur<strong>the</strong>r discussion <strong>and</strong> recommendations regard<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>strument development <strong>and</strong> its role <strong>in</strong><br />

NASA’s broader planetary technology development program, see Chapter 11.<br />

PREPUBLICATION COPY—SUBJECT TO FURTHER EDITORIAL CORRECTION<br />

10-9

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