Original report

Director, Planetary Science Division

Science Mission Directorate

NASA Headquarters

300 E Street SW

Washington, DC 20546

Dear Dr. Green:

The NASA Planetary Senior Review panel met at the Sheraton Columbia Town Center Hotel in Maryland on 14-15 May 2014 to discuss extended missions for Cassini and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO). A second panel of essentially different personnel (apart from the Chair and one other) met at the Embassy Suites Hotel Baltimore at BWI on 20-22 May 2014 to discuss five Mars missions: Mars Exploration Rover (MER - Opportunity), Mars Odyssey (ODY), Mars Express (MEX), Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) and the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL - Curiosity). All extended missions were rated higher than "Good", some after adjustments to scope, as it was recognized that they continue to add important new data and observations for our understanding of Solar System bodies and processes. The science value (or science per dollar) of the extended missions exceeds the science gain from any planned mission, and all have important strengths. That is, they all represent added value to the Planetary Science Division and the American taxpayer because they are essentially new missions without the development and launch costs. Therefore, this Senior Review examined each proposal with regard to the "new science" that was being proposed. In addition, we also examined previous productivity, the value of long-term observations, as well as how to improve efficiencies and identify the optimal use of limited funding because of the severe budgetary pressures over the years covering the extended missions. The hard task of achieving the best value for the funding available requires iteration with the projects, programmatic considerations, and input from the scientific community. The Senior Review represents the most effective and efficient way of providing scientific community input.

Each spacecraft contained formidable capabilities when they began their prime mission and this Senior Review commends the high quality of scientific work already achieved by all seven missions. The harsh environment of space, however, has produced a degradation of these capabilities as each mission proceeds. This makes enabling new science more difficult, but follow up observations on the discoveries that these missions have already made bring added value to planetary science. Therefore, every effort should be made to preserve at some level the capabilities that produce new and groundbreaking science.

The panel treated each mission in a similar way, voting on the extended mission as proposed for the Guideline budget. If there was discussion about other proposed budgets (Overguide, Optimal and Descope) and the panel felt that these were more appropriate, they were also voted upon. If the panel thought that a different descope plan was appropriate, this was also voted on. Each extended mission proposal was treated on its own merits and there was no comparison between the proposals the Senior Review panel was asked to examine.

See the original post here:

NASA Planetary Senior Review Panel Report