The Pluto spacecraft has been redesigned for a mass of less than 100 kilograms, and Russian Drop Zonds will be used to sample the planet's atmosphere if initial discussions on Russian cooperation come to fruition, he explained.
Prototype instruments were delivered from JPL and other investigators. They were able to demonstrate that science goals "can be met with an ultraviolet/visible/infrared radio science flight instrument total weighing less than 7 kilograms, and using less than 6 watts, for less than $30 million," he said.
"Two years ago, people laughed when we proposed such requirements," Staehle noted. "But with the current technology, we have shown that we can do the Pluto science set within these constraints."
Currently, NASA Headquarters is evaluating the possibilities. "Do we go with direct trajectory, which is simpler?" Staehle asked. "Do we choose less costly operations, but on a trajectory requiring an expensive upper stage?"
"Do we work with the Russians and launch on their Proton rockets? Would each probe carry a Drop Zond, which would then be dumped?" Or, Staehle offered, should the team launch without the Russians' help, using a Delta rocket?
Regardless of configuration, the launch is planned for 2001, with the project beginning in 1998.
|
|