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Pluto, Venus, and the Moon

With the disarray existing within the Russian solar system exploration program, no commitments to other missions have been made. However, a number of proposals retain a very high level of interest within the scientific community, and behind-the-scenes negotiations are underway to find either domestic or international financial support. Perhaps the most likely next mission will be a joint US-Russian project to send an instrumented vehicle past Pluto and dropping a probe on its surface, the oft-discussed Pluto Fast Fly-by mission. One scenario envisions a spacecraft launched in 1999 by a Russian booster reaching Pluto in the period 2006-2007. Another joint US-Russian mission, based on the new American Discovery program, would renew Venus studies under the Surface-Atmosphere Geochemistry Experiments (SAGE) concept, taking advantage of Russian Venus lander technology. Finally, a number of lunar exploration missions have been suggested with an emphasis on lunar rovers and exploitation of lunar materials (References 196-211).

REFERENCES

196. L. David, "Russia Considers Accompanying U.S. in Pluto Exploration", Space News, 2-8 May 1994, p. 14.

197. "Pluto Flight Considered", AviatLon Week and Space Technology, 9 May 1994, p. 27.

198. ITAR-TASS News Agency, 11 May 1994.

199. B. Iannotta, "NASA's JPL Engineers Face Challenge: Price Must Fall for Pluto Plans to Fly", Space News, 23-29 January 1995, p. 18.

200. R.L. Staehle, "Continuer L'Exploration Du Systeme Solaire", Air & Cosmos, 6 January 1995, p. 58.

201. R.L.S. Taylor, "Pluto Mission", Spaceflight, February 1995, p. 69.

202. J.W. Head, et al. "Discovery Venera Surface-Atmosphere Geochemistry Experiments (SAGE) Mission Concept", Paper IAF-93-Q.5.417, 44th Congress of the International Astronautical Federation, 1993.

203. B. Iannotta, "Firms Seeks [sic] NASA Backing for Moon Delivery Service", Space News, 18-24 October 1993, p. 29.

204. M. Chemyshov, Segodnya, 4 November 1993, p. 8.

205. K. Rendel, Sankt-Peterburgskiye Vedomosti, 13 May 1994, p. 5.

206. L. David, "NASA Proposes Russian Rover for Moon Surveyor Mission", Space News, 13-19 June 1994, p. 24.

207. M. Simon, "International Space Enterprises", Spaceflight, July 1994, pp. 237-240.

208. L. David, "Lunar Oxygen Facility Tested Aboard Russian Moon Rover", Space News, 29 August - 4 September 1994, p.10.

209. A. Bakina, Rabochaya Tribuna, 11 November 1994, p. 4.

210. V. Kamyshev, Gudok, 15 November 1994, p. 4.

211. S. Leskov, Izvestiya, 22 November 1994, p. 5.

Sources and Resources

• Adapted from: Europe and Asia in Space 1993-1994, Nicholas Johnson and David Rodvold [Kaman Sciences / Air Force Phillips Laboratory]

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