There’s a buzz of emails coming in today regarding the future of Mars exploration…cost cuts, nail biting, and worry. Major decisions are forthcoming from NASA Headquarters.

For one, due to a higher than anticipated price tag on the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) — the mega-rover due to liftoff in 2009 — how to pay for that overrun is jangling the cash drawer at NASA.

Also on the table are budget issues that could impact the Mars Exploration Rovers — those still working robots, Spirit and Opportunity — and the overall NASA red planet program.

For one, next Monday, an all-hands meeting of the Mars Exploration Rover team is slated to discuss financial belt-tightening and impact on the Mars rovers. Turn off one of the rovers? That might save some money. On the other hand, slip the MSL to 2011 could relieve budgetary and schedule pressure? All rumors, if not heavy-breathing paranoia.

From a couple of Mars exploration gurus I’m in touch with, you get two sides of the coin (could a three-sided coin be a future NASA spinoff?): “It has been a great ride,” noted one Mars explorer, given all the Mars attention over the years. “Bottom line, the Mars program is being gutted before our very eyes,” explained another red planet researcher.

Mars is clearly not an entitlement program, emphasized NASA chief, Mike Griffin, at the recent Lunar and Planetary Science Conference in Houston, Texas.

Key NASA officials are citing “Myth Busting” factoids to counter the belief in the Mars community that red planet exploration is being cut far below its recent average. The comeback is that, to the contrary, Mars budgets have fluctuated over time and are now returning to near average level of the past 20-plus years.

Another myth breaker being touted is that NASA is not budgeting for a Mars sample return program. Not true responds NASA Hq officials - there’s $68 million in Mars sample return studies and technology development for that mission within the space agency’s current budget request.

Also looming large in all of this budgetary posturing is a go-ahead on the next flagship mission for a crowd of ready-and-waiting outer planet experts. A several billion dollar-class voyage to either Jupiter or Saturn is under review, for resolution by year’s end.

Meanwhile, while the wild rumors about Mars abound, highly placed NASA sources tell me that they are committed to finding good solutions to all this.

Meanwhile (part 2) - stand by for fur to fly…if not spacecraft.

This entry was posted on Friday, March 21st, 2008 at 6:26 pm and is filed under Space & Astronomy, Technology, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.