NASA's Office of Space Science has announced the selection of three proposals for detailed study as candidates for the next Discovery mission. The three are:

Kepler, a space telescope designed to detect Earth-sized planets around stars in the Sun's area of the galaxy. By monitoring 100,000 stars over a four-year mission, Kepler could detect up to 500 Earth-sized planets and up to 1000 Jupiter-sized planets. Dr. William Boruckiof NASA's Ames Research Center is the Principal Investigator (PI).

INSIDE Jupiter, an orbiter designed to observe and measure processes occurring within the Jovian magnetosphere and atmosphere. The mission would determine the internal structure of the planet by obtaining high resolution maps of the magnetic and gravity fields. The PI is Dr. Edward J. Smith of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

Dawn, a mission to orbit Vesta and Ceres, two of the largest asteroids in the solar system, each with very different properties. By observing both asteroids with the same set of instruments, Dawn would probe the early solar system as well as identify in detail the properties of each asteroid. Dr. Christopher T. Russell of the University of California at Los Angeles is the PI.

"The diversity of science represented in these three mission proposals is outstanding. NASA will have its hands full picking only one for flight," said Dr. Jay Bergstralh, acting Director of Solar System Exploration at NASA Headquarters, Washington, DC.

The selected proposals were judged to have the best science value among 26 proposals submitted last August. Each selected team will receive $450,000 to conduct a four-month implementation-feasibility study focused on cost, management and technical plans, including educational outreach and small business involvement.

Following detailed mission concept studies, NASA intends to select one of the three proposals late in 2001 for full development. The mission should be launched around 2005 or 2006.

NASA has also decided to fund a Discovery "Mission of Opportunity" for American participation in a French-led mission to Mars. Dr. W. Bruce Banerdt of the Jet Propulsion Laboratory will lead the effort to contribute to seismology, meteorology and geodesy on the NetLander Mission, scheduled for launch in 2007.

For complete information, please see the NASA press release.

Go to 2001 News Articles Archive