Dear Friends,
NASA's budget has been cut so badly that most of the planetary missions in the planning stages are threatened with no funding. Jim Green sent out the message forwarded below to the planetary science community. As a NASA employee, he can't encourage you to take part in political actions. However, he alludes to the budgetary dangers that threaten future planetary exploration. If Curiosity and the MSL team provide an exceptionally successful scientific mission with lots of public support, there might be more support in congress for future planetary exploration. Thus, enjoy the mission and let your political representatives know how important it is to you and your friends.
Just to put the costs in perspective: MSL is an exceptionally expensive mission, projected to cost ~$2.5 billion over 10 years (8 years of development and 2 years of mission). That is a lot of money. However, it is a tiny bit of money compared to many other things our government spends (wastes?) money on. For example, 1 day of war in Iraq cost ~$720 million, so the entire MSL mission will cost the rough equivalent of 3.5 days of war (see also http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Financial_cost_of_the_Iraq_War). Some politicians argue that the money spent on war goes mostly to American companies, etc., etc. The same is true for planetary exploration missions. They also develop new technology. And unlike war, they do not take people's lives and they do inspire young scientists and engineers.
May the people of the world explore the planets together!
Cheers
Dawn
PS: It's my early evening equivalent time: 11 pm, target bed time: 3 am again. I barely made it last night.
+++++++++
PLANETARY EXPLORATION NEWSLETTER - SPECIAL EDITION
Volume 6, Number 33 (July 29, 2012)
PEN Website: http://planetarynews.org
Editor: Susan Benecchi
Co-Editors: Mark V. Sykes, Melissa Lane
Email: pen_editor at psi.edu
o---------------------------SPECIAL EDITION---------------------------o
[NASA] MARS CURIOSITY ROVER LANDING
James L. Green, Director Planetary Science, NASA
One week from today, our community will be forever changed, one way or
the other, no matter what. The landing of the Mars Curiosity Rover at
Gale Crater occurs at 1:31 AM (Easter Daylight Time) and it will be a history
event. Curiosity is our latest flagship mission and it demands all of
our attention. This feat represents the most difficult entry, descent,
and landing (what is known as EDL) of a planetary science rover ever
attempted, anywhere. As you may already know, the historical success
rate at the planet Mars is only 40%. Although our landing percentage
odds are higher (100%), successful landing with an unproven, next
generation, landing system…well, that will be a white-knuckle-
experience to say the least.
One short week away is the crescendo of the "Martian - Year of the
Solar System." In addition to planetary's two years of success; for
the MSL team, it's the culmination of over 8 long years of effort.
Frankly, the future of the Mars program and perhaps planetary science
is at stake. It goes without saying that we are in trying budgetary
times.
Each one of us in the planetary science community should appreciate,
understand, and take ownership of this event. We should discuss
Curiosity's Landing to our friends, neighbors, and colleagues.
Whether you are part of the Mars program or not, I encourage you
to become aware of what will happen in one week and talk to your own
"network" of family and friends. At the very least, watch the
"7 Minutes of Terror" video on Youtube, and hear firsthand what will
occur. Beginning tomorrow, an animation will be available showcasing
EDL on our Eyes On Solar System website:
An entire "toolkit" has been created to assist you in raising
awareness and communicating all aspects of this incredible mission
and the EDL event at:
If you are hosting a landing event or are looking to participate
in an event near you, please go to www.nasa.gov/mars to find a
location before the landing. Or, during the landing, watch it, live,
online at that same site. For Curiosity and planetary science on
August 6th, one way or another, our world will not be the same.
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