Outcome 2.3: Solar System & Life

Ascertain the content, origin, and evolution of the solar system and the potential for life elsewhere.

Other Information:

NASA's planetary science missions have revolutionized our understanding of the origin and history of the solar system. Our findings helped identify Pluto as one among many Kuiper Belt objects and led to new theories of the origins of the asteroid belt. Other missions indicated that Mars was once a watery world and have observed watery plumes and methane lakes on the moons of the giant planets. The launches of the New Horizons mission to Pluto and the Kuiper Belt, the Dawn mission to the asteroids Ceres and Vesta, and MESSENGER to explore Mercury's previously unseen hemisphere continue our initial reconnaissance of the major accessible bodies in the solar system. Closer to home, we are using ground-based assets in coordination with the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Air Force (USAF) to survey the volume of near-Earth space to detect, track, catalog, and characterize near- Earth objects that may either pose hazards to Earth or provide resources for future exploration. Mars, our closest planetary neighbor, is a near-term target for in-depth scientific exploration. The initial data we are gathering from our Mars rovers and orbiters is helping to inform planning and development of increasingly sophisticated Mars missions to assess present and past habitability of the red planet. We are planning and implementing an integrated Mars Exploration Program with the European Space Agency (ESA). Beyond Mars, New Horizons is on its way to the outer solar system, with Juno following in 2011, and we are jointly planning a flagship mission with ESA to the outer planets, targeting Jupiter's system of moons. Building on decades of success, we intend to continue the use of robotic spacecraft to provide critical information to support safe, effective human space exploration beyond low Earth orbit. Our ongoing missions to the Moon and the inner solar system will generate knowledge to facilitate advanced robotic exploration and eventually prepare us for a sustained human presence outside of low Earth orbit. In parallel, we will continue to strengthen our coordinated implementation of international and interagency collaboration on robotic missions to meet the Agency's broadest objectives in science and exploration. Scientific priorities for future planetary science missions are guided by decadal surveys produced by the National Academies. The next decadal survey for planetary science will be completed in 2011.

Stakeholder(s):

• National Academies


• European Space Agency (ESA)


• U.S. Air Force (USAF)


• National Science Foundation

Indicator(s):

Indicator:1

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