Xref: utzoo sci.space:15301 sci.space.shuttle:3991 sci.astro:5637 Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!rutgers!ucsd!swrinde!cs.utexas.edu!usc!henry.jpl.nasa.gov!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!jato!mars.jpl.nasa.gov!baalke From: baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Newsgroups: sci.space,sci.space.shuttle,sci.astro Subject: Future Space Missions Message-ID: <2086@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov> Date: 6 Nov 89 18:03:24 GMT Sender: news@jato.Jpl.Nasa.Gov Reply-To: baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov (Ron Baalke) Organization: Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA. Lines: 145 Future Space Missions 1989 Missions o Cosmic Background Explorer (CBE) Launched by expendable rocket in November 1989, The CBE's mission is to measure space radiation, possibly from the "Big Bang". 1990 Missions o Roentgen Satellite To be launched by expendable rocket in February, the Roentgen will study X-ray emissions from stars and galaxies. o Hubble Space Telescope Space Shuttle launch in March, it will study the universe for 15 years or longer. From above the Earth's obscuring atmosphere, it will "see" planets, stars, and other objects in the universe about 10 times better than now possible with the best telescopes on the ground. o Astronomy/Broad Band X-Ray Telescope In March, to be carried aboard a shuttle, this telescope will obtain ultraviolet and X-ray data on stars. o Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO) April, shuttle, this space observatory will investigate black holes, neutron stars and other gamma-ray emitters. o Space Life Sciences Lab June, on-board shuttle lab will be the first in a series on US missions to study to effects of weightlessness. o Combined Release and Radiation Satellite June, expendable rocket will study the effects of radiation on spacecraft components. o Ulysses Octobter by rocket, will study the sun and its emissions and will use a Jupiter gravity assist. 1991 Missions o Tethered Satellite System January, shuttle, attached by tether to the shuttle bay, system will study electrical fields and gas clouds in space while demonstrating the capabilities of deploying and retrieving a tethered satellite. o International Micrograving Lab February, shuttle lab will set up systems for life-science studies. o Atmospheric Lab for Applications and Science (ATLAS) May, shuttle, this manned lab will study variations in the solar spectrum and Earth's atmosphere. o Spacelab July aboard shuttle, carry out low-gravity experiments. o Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer August, rocket, this satellite will study the evolution and population of stars and galaxies. o Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS) October, shuttle launch, will study upper atmosphere chemistry. o Small Explorer-1 November, first in a series of rocket launches to study space physics and atmospheric science. 1992 Missions o Space Radar Lab May shuttle, gather radar images of Earth's surface. o TOPEX/Poseidon June rocket, TOPEX will study the relationship of ocean systems to climate. o Mars Observer September by rocket, to study Mars' climate and surface. o Shuttle High-Energy Astrophysics Lab September, on-board shuttle study of space X-ray sources. 1993 Missions o Gravity Probe June, shuttle launch, prototype mission to test Einstein's theory that space is curved. o Polar Orbiting Satellite June, measure solar wind and ions and gases surrounding the Earth. o Waves in Space Plasma November, shuttle attached antennae that will send out radio waves to measure the ionosphere. Proposed Missions: o Advanced X-ray Astronomy Facility (AXAF) Possible launch from shuttle in 1995, AXAF is a space observatory with a high resolution telescope. It would orbit for 15 years and study the mysteries and fate of the universe. o Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF) Possible launch in 1995, a deep space probe to comet Kopff to study it in detail for 3 years. o Earth Observing System (EOS) Possible launch in 1997, 1 of 6 US orbiting space platforms to provide long-term data (15 years) of Earth systems science including planetary evolution. o Cassini Possible launch in 1996, orbiter would spend 4 years studying Saturn and send an atmospheric probe into the moon Titan. o Mercury Observer Possible 1997 launch. o Lunar Observer Possible 1997 launch, would be sent into a long-term lunar orbit. The Observer, from 60 miles above the moon's poles, would survey characteristics to provide a global context for the results from the Apollo program. o Space Infrared Telescope Facility Possible launch by shuttle in 1999, this is the 4th element of the Great Observatories program. A free-flying observatory with a lifetime of 5 to 10 years, it would observe new comets and other primitive bodies in the outer solar system, study cosmic birth formation of galaxies, stars and planets and distant infrared-emitting galaxies o Mars Rover Sample Return (MRSR) Robotics rover would return samples of Mars' atmosphere and surface to Earch for analysis. Possible launch dates: 1996 for imaging orbiter, 2001 for rover. o Fire and Ice Possible launch in 2001, will use a gravity assist flyby of Earth in 2003, and use a final gravity assist from Jupiter in 2005, where the probe will split into its Fire and Ice components: The Fire probe will journey into the Sun, taking measurements of our star's upper atmosphere until it is vaporized by the intense heat. The Ice probe will head out towards Pluto, reaching the tiny world for study by 2016. Ron Baalke | (818) 541-2341 x260 Jet Propulsion Lab M/S 301-355 | baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov 4800 Oak Grove Dr. | Pasadena, CA 91109 |