Sign in / up

back to article NASA shortlists three contenders for next robo-probe mission

NASA has announced the shortlist for its next "Discovery" robot solar-system explorer mission and has also selected three groovy new space technologies for further funding. Discovery missions are relatively inexpensive space shots – funding for this next one is limited to $425m plus launch costs – in which the flight plan is …

COMMENTS

House rules Send corrections
This topic is closed for new posts.
  1. lglethal Silver badge
    Go

    Stupid lack of funding!

    All 3 sound cool! Why cant we gte all 3 off the ground! =(

    Maybe ESA could take on one of the losers, and JAXA the other? Or the russians?

    Its such a pity that political short sightedness always means less money for science and discovey...

    2 0
    1. Twirlip
      Reply Icon

      See ESA's Rosetta

      > Maybe ESA could take on one of the losers

      They already have. The "Comet Hopper" sounds awefully similar to ESA's Rosetta spacecraft. Launched in 2004, it should catch up with comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko in 2014. Rosetta will orbit the comet as it dives into the inner solar system, and includes a lander.

      0 0
      1. Naughtyhorse
        Reply Icon
        Coat

        Churyumov-Gerasimenko

        Gesundheit.

        1 1
  2. Anonymous Coward
    Linux

    Maybe we can have a probe land on Enceladus...

    Drill down to the ocean there, then chuck in a bag full of plastic six-pack holders, empty water bottles and crude oil. Then we can say that Enceladus has oceans just like earth!

    Ok, ok, I'm leaving!

    Linux penguin, because his buddies would probably be right at home on Enceladus....

    0 0
This topic is closed for new posts.

Other stories you might like