Design of a Probe Mission to an Earth-like Planet
Goals in Project Choice
- Useful to NASA
- Everyone can contribute something in their own field
- Is of public interest
Overall Mission
- Send a probe to Gliese 581 c
- Explore the possibility of life there
- Promote public interest in this mission and NASA in general
Our Tasks
- Investigate past probe missions and NASA outreach projects
- Design a mission plan in the form of a proposal for a larger NASA project
- Create a plan for public outreach
- Prepare a sample piece of outreach material
How Does It Benefit NASA?
- “To explore the universe and search for life” with the probe
- “To inspire the next generation of explorers” with exciting missions and outreach
Team Structure
- Leadership will be ad hoc
- Outreach: Ashley Micks
- Propulsion: Kyle Gaiser, Jennifer Jones, Ashley Micks
- Space Policy: Bernard Murphy, Rebecca Arvanites, Stephanie Vasicek, Adam Pfendt
- Scientific Mission: Jessica Snyder, Stephanie Vasicek, Adam Pfendt
- Autonomous Systems: Jessica Snyder, Rebecca Arvanites
- Power: Kyle Gaiser, Jennifer Jones, Bernard Murphy
Project Advisors
- Each sub-group will attempt to contact one, to meet with at least once. For example:
- Cheryl Bowman, Lee Mason (nuclear power)
- Marc Millis (breakthrough propulsion)
Ongoing Components
- The outreach website will be accessible, but completed by the end of the 10 weeks
- The probe mission itself, if adopted
- The final report will be available online
- Additional publications, if merited
- Missions to other planets based on this model
