Abstract
Robotic space exploration to the outer solar system is difficult and expensive and the space science community works inventively and collaboratively to maximize the scientific return of missions. A mission to either of our solar system Ice Giants, Uranus and Neptune, will provide numerous opportunities to address high-level science objectives relevant to multiple disciplines and deliberate cross-disciplinary mission planning should ideally be woven in from the start. In this review, we recount past successes as well as (NASA-focused) challenges in performing cross-disciplinary science from robotic space exploration missions and detail the opportunities for broad-reaching science objectives from potential future missions to the Ice Giants.This article is part of a discussion meeting issue ‘Future exploration of ice giant systems’.
Highlights
Robotic space exploration presents unbridled opportunities to expand human understanding of the natural order of our planet, our solar system, our universe and beyond
Though this review focuses primarily on NASA and the funding processes within the USA, it should be noted that the Science Programme at ESA is likewise guided by community-driven long-term plans that occur roughly each decade and place high value in cross-disciplinary themes [2]
We recount past successes as well as challenges in performing cross-disciplinary science from robotic space exploration missions and detail the opportunities for broad-reaching science objectives from potential future missions to the Ice Giants
Summary
Robotic space exploration presents unbridled opportunities to expand human understanding of the natural order of our planet, our solar system, our universe and beyond. NASA funding of robotic space missions comes from the Science Mission Directorate (SMD) and is predominantly supported by one of four divisions: Astrophysics, Earth Science, Heliophysics or Planetary Science. The respective science communities outline their priorities in the form of ‘Decadal Survey’ reports administered by the National Academy of Sciences These Decadal Surveys, generated with broad community input, occur every 10 years and outline the successes, challenges and future vision within each discipline, as defined by the community.
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