NASA's Discovery Program

On 30 October 2006, NASA announced that three missions were selected for concept studies and evaluation for the Discovery program:
- OSIRIS, a mission to return asteroid surface samples
- Vesper, a mission to study the atmosphere of Venus
- GRAIL, a mission to studt the gravity field and interior of the Moon

Three missions of opportunity were also selected for further study:
- DIXI, use of the Deep Impact spacecraft for an extended flyby of another comet
- EPOCh, use of the high-resolution camera on Deep Impact to look for extrasolar planets
- NExT, use of the Stardust spacecraft to fly by Comet Tempel 1

For more information, see the NASA Press Release

The primary goal of NASA's Discovery program is to conduct a series of frequent, highly focused, cost-effective missions to answer critical questions in solar system science. Formally started in NASA's FY 1994 budget, the Discovery program features small planetary exploration spacecraft with focused science goals that can be built in 36 months or less, for less than $190 million in development costs and a total mission cost of less than $299 million.

The program encourages the use of new technologies, transfer of these technologies to the private sector, increased participation of small and disadvantaged businesses, the pursuit of innovative ways of doing business, and support of the nation's educational initiatives. The objective is to perform high-quality scientific investigations which will assure continuity in the U.S. solar system exploration program and enhance general public awareness of, and appreciation for, solar system exploration.

The two most recently selected proposals are:

Eight other missions have been selected for the Discovery program so far:

Near Earth Asteroid Rendezvous (NEAR) - Asteroid 433 Eros Orbiter (launched 17 February 1996)
Mars Pathfinder - Mars surface lander and rover (launched 4 December 1996)
Lunar Prospector - Lunar orbiter (launched 7 January 1998)
Stardust - Comet P/Wild 2 coma sample return (launched 7 February 1999)
Genesis - Solar wind sample return mission (launched 8 August 2001)
CONTOUR - Mission to fly by three comet nuclei (launched 3 July 2002 - failed)
MESSENGER - Mission to orbit Mercury (launched 3 August 2004)
Deep Impact - Mission to Comet Tempel 1 (launched 12 January 2005)

The Discovery Program was also funding participation in a French (CNES) mission to Mars:

Netlander - Mars network of scientific stations (to be launched in 2007, but which has been postponed)

More Information on the Discovery Program and Missions

Three new concept studies and three missions of opportunity - Press Release (October 2006)
Two new missions, Dawn and Kepler, selected - Press Release (December 2001)
Three new missions under consideration - Press Release (January 2001)
Selection of MESSENGER and Deep Impact - Press Release (July 1999)
Five missions selected for further study - Press Release (November 1998)
Selection of CONTOUR and Genesis - Press Release (October 1997)
Lunar Prospector Selection - Press Release (February 1995)
Stardust Selection - Press Release (November 1995)
More information on the five 1997 Discovery candidates - Press Release (April 1997)
Stardust, Suess-Urey, and Venus Multi-Probe - The 3 final candidates for the 4th Discovery mission

Discovery Program Acquisition
Discovery Program Support Office

Other Past, Current, and Future Planetary Missions
NSSDC Planetary Science Home Page
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Author/Curator:
Dr. David R. Williams, dave.williams@nasa.gov
NSSDC, Mail Code 690.1
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, MD 20771
+1-301-286-1258

NASA Official: Ed Grayzeck, edwin.j.grayzeck@nasa.gov
Last Updated: 31 October 2006, DRW