Science Analysis of the November 3, 2005 Version of the Draft Mars Exploration Program Plan

January 6, 2006

Prepared by the MEPAG ‘2005 Mars Program Plan Science Analysis Group’

Purpose and Scope:

The purpose of this report is to provide comments on the draft Mars Program Plan for the next decade. Specifically, comments are provided on the version of the plan presented during the MEPAG Meeting on November 3, 2005. These comments are authored by the Draft Program Plan Science Analysis Group (SAG). The SAG was chartered by MEPAG to consider the extensive discussion and input about the draft plan from the MEPAG attendees, together with analyses conducted by the SAG, and to provide a report that delineates the strengths and weaknesses of the draft plan, together with possible alternative approaches. Further, the SAG considered the overarching scientific themes for the next decade of Mars exploration and the technological infrastructure needed to implement the plan and viable alternatives.

http://mepag.jpl.nasa.gov/reports/Mars_Progam_Plan_SAG_report.doc

Some mission dates from the report:

· 2011/2013 Scout and core science orbiter with telecommunications capability
· 2016 Mid-rovers or Astrobiology Field Laboratory
· 2018 Scout
· 2020 Planetary Evolution and Meteorology Network
· 2022 Mars Sample Return Orbiter with Telecom
· 2024 Mobile Mars Sample Return

Looks like manned Mars missions won't even start until at least the 2030s.