1. The Mars Exploration Program
Still Following the Water
Doug McCuistion
Director, Mars Exploration Program
NASA HQ
Science Mission Directorate International Workshop
March 8-10, 2005

2. Agenda Mars Exploration Program – The Current Decade
Next Decade of Mars Exploration
Strategic Roadmapping and the US National Vision
Review of Key Messages from the 2004 International Workshop

3. Mars Exploration Program - the Current Decade2
Most of you are pretty familiar with this chart, and the missions in the Mars Exploration Program in this decade.
Mission & Technology development follows pathways similar to the discovery-drive science program
Pathways guide the DIRECTION of the next decade’s missions, but not at the payload/instrument level. Architectural outlines, objectives, and constructs are set but flexibility allows mission selection and technology infusion as science discoveries drive the needed missions & measurements.
Missions in this decade are pretty well set—MRO in 2005, Phoenix in 2007.
Opportunities still exist in 2009 with MTO and MSL………

4. Comparison: FY2005 President’s Budget vs. FY2006 President’s Budget
Science Mission Directorate (SMD)

5. Mars Program Budget

6. Near-Term Missions 2005: MRO 2007: Phoenix
All instruments delivered and integrated
S/C completed acoustics, shock and thermal vac
Ship to KSC: April
Launch Window: August 10-30
Payload PDRs Completed in November
Heritage Reviews Completed in December
Mission-level PDR this week
Confirmation Review April 2005
Launch August 2007

7. Late-Decade Missions 2009: MSL 2009: MTO MER MSL
Landed Mass kg ~600 kg
Designed Driving m ,000 m
Distance
Mission Duration sols 687 sols
Power/Sol w/hr ~2400 w/hr
Instruments (#/mass) /5.44 kg 6-9/65 kg
Data Return Mb/sol Mb/sol Mb/sol (with MTO)
EDL Ballistic Entry Guided/Precision Entry
MER MSL
S/C RFP released November ; contract award expected in March/April 2005
Science AO under development; planning to release internal draft AO by mid-March
Launch October 2009

8. MSL Payload International Contributions Instrument Contribution
Complete Instrument

9. Roadmapping to Integrate Strategic Priorities

10. “Search for Past Life” Pathway Example
Scout &
Mars
Testbed
Mars
Testbed
Mars
Testbed
2006 President’s
Budget

11. International Partnerships
Extensive International cooperation has been successful in the Mars Program
MGS – France, Austria
Odyssey – Russia, France
MER – Germany, Denmark
MRO – Italy, UK
MEX – US on ESA s/c
Phoenix – Switzerland, Germany, Denmark, Canada
MSL – Spain, France, Russia, Canada, Germany
Mars Exploration Program intends to continue, and hopefully expand, international partnerships

12. Key Topics from November Workshop
Mars is the central exploration focus for nearly all countries
Most countries haven’t identified the Moon as stepping stone to Mars in their strategic planning (with robotic precursors)
Current planning in countries other than the U.S. is driven by the science priorities developed within their own science constituencies and the global marketplace
Mars Sample Return was the highest Mars priority in general
Most countries are application-driven
Their missions and products have to be traced to specific technologies with clearly-defined societal benefits
A large amount of technology development will be required to enable exploration
There are a lot of relevant technologies that are planned or being developed that will be extremely valuable to exploration
Everyone is excited about the potential for true collaboration
This workshop is a good first step – engaging potential partners before plans are set in stone
We need to learn the lessons from past collaborative efforts
There are many robotic missions planned to both the Moon and Mars
Collaboration on key missions such as Mars Sample Return is advantageous for all
Sharing of data from missions is essential to moving forward in a collaborative way
This is an area where innovative new practices could be of great benefit to Exploration

13. Science Mission Directorate (SMD) International Conference
An opportunity to continue our dialog on collaboration
Workshop Goals
Present NASA/SMD’s sceince priorities, especially in light of the National Vision for Space Exploration
Identify areas for mutually beneficial collaboration in science
Build on existing and ongoing relationships, as well as dialog from the Exploration Workshop in November 2004

14. In Conclusion….
NASA’s Mars Exploration Program is healthy, continuing to make new discoveries
NASA strategic roadmapping activities have the potential to yield great opportunities, as well as new challenges
Human Exploration precursor technology and mission needs are being integrated
Mars Science will have additional opportunities with the US National Vision (and Aurora?)
We must work together—human exploration and science—through …
strategic collaborations,
tactical contributions,
and robust commitments

15. Backup

16. Actions from November Workshop
Most agencies indicated a strong interest in the Science Mission Directorate International meeting next March
Action by 2/05: Ensure workshop agenda is synergistic with Exploration and we clearly communicate the intersection of the two programs (COMPLETE)
International Working Groups are and effective mechanism for developing strategies and roadmaps (I.e. Mars Exploration Program Working Group)
Action by 1/05: Ensure we have adequate International participation in these groups and that the charters are synergistic with Exploration. Lunar Exploration Program Analysis Group is next step. (COMPLETE)
Some agencies indicated a desire for bi-lateral discussions regarding the key capabilities we identified.
Action by 4/05: Determine the requirements, schedule, content of bi-lateral discussions regarding key capabilities.
Sharing of data from missions is essential to moving forward in a collaborative way
Action by 8/05: Determine strategy for developing common access to mission data. (SELENE is first step)
There are many robotic missions planned to both the Moon and Mars
Action by 8/05: Engage key agencies in Roadmapping activities in order to suggest the best near-term mission sets for a collaborative program. (Common action with Session #1).