🚀 go-pugleaf

                         Future Space Missions
 
1989 Missions
  o Cosmic Background Explorer (CBE)
       Launched by expendable rocket in November 1989, The CBE's mission is to
       measure space radiation, possibly from the "Big Bang".
 
1990 Missions
  o Roentgen Satellite
       To be launched by expendable rocket in February, the Roentgen will study
       X-ray emissions from stars and galaxies.
 
  o Hubble Space Telescope
       Space Shuttle launch in March, it will study the universe for 15 years
       or longer. From above the Earth's obscuring atmosphere, it will "see"
       planets, stars, and other objects in the universe about 10 times better
       than now possible with the best telescopes on the ground.
 
   o Astronomy/Broad Band X-Ray Telescope
       In March, to be carried aboard a shuttle, this telescope will obtain
       ultraviolet and X-ray data on stars.
 
   o Gamma Ray Observatory (GRO)
       April, shuttle, this space observatory will investigate black holes,
       neutron stars and other gamma-ray emitters.
 
   o Space Life Sciences Lab
       June, on-board shuttle lab will be the first in a series on US missions
       to study to effects of weightlessness.
 
   o Combined Release and Radiation Satellite
       June, expendable rocket will study the effects of radiation on
       spacecraft components.
 
   o Ulysses
       Octobter by rocket, will study the sun and its emissions and will use
       a Jupiter gravity assist.
 
1991 Missions
   o Tethered Satellite System
       January, shuttle, attached by tether to the shuttle bay, system will
       study electrical fields and gas clouds in space while demonstrating the
       capabilities of deploying and retrieving a tethered satellite.
 
   o International Micrograving Lab
       February, shuttle lab will set up systems for life-science studies.
 
   o Atmospheric Lab for Applications and Science (ATLAS)
       May, shuttle, this manned lab will study variations in the solar
       spectrum and Earth's atmosphere.
 
   o Spacelab
       July aboard shuttle, carry out low-gravity experiments.
 
   o Extreme Ultraviolet Explorer
       August, rocket, this satellite will study the evolution and population
       of stars and galaxies.
 
   o Upper Atmosphere Research Satellite (UARS)
       October, shuttle launch, will study upper atmosphere chemistry.
 
   o Small Explorer-1
       November, first in a series of rocket launches to study space physics
       and atmospheric science.
 
1992 Missions
   o Space Radar Lab
       May shuttle, gather radar images of Earth's surface.
 
   o TOPEX/Poseidon
       June rocket, TOPEX will study the relationship of ocean systems to
       climate.
 
   o Mars Observer
       September by rocket, to study Mars' climate and surface.
 
   o Shuttle High-Energy Astrophysics Lab
       September, on-board shuttle study of space X-ray sources.
 
1993 Missions
   o Gravity Probe
       June, shuttle launch, prototype mission to test Einstein's theory that
       space is curved.
 
   o Polar Orbiting Satellite
       June, measure solar wind and ions and gases surrounding the Earth.
 
   o Waves in Space Plasma
       November, shuttle attached antennae that will send out radio waves to
       measure the ionosphere.
 
Proposed Missions:
   o Advanced X-ray Astronomy Facility (AXAF)
       Possible launch from shuttle in 1995, AXAF is a space observatory with a
       high resolution telescope. It would orbit for 15 years and study the
       mysteries and fate of the universe.
 
   o Comet Rendezvous Asteroid Flyby (CRAF)
       Possible launch in 1995, a deep space probe to comet Kopff to study it
       in detail for 3 years.
 
   o Earth Observing System (EOS)
       Possible launch in 1997, 1 of 6 US orbiting space platforms to provide
       long-term data (15 years) of Earth systems science including planetary
       evolution.
 
   o Cassini
       Possible launch in 1996, orbiter would spend 4 years studying Saturn and
       send an atmospheric probe into the moon Titan.
 
   o Mercury Observer
       Possible 1997 launch.
 
   o Lunar Observer
       Possible 1997 launch, would be sent into a long-term lunar orbit. The
       Observer, from 60 miles above the moon's poles, would survey
       characteristics to provide a global context for the results from the
       Apollo program.
 
   o Space Infrared Telescope Facility
       Possible launch by shuttle in 1999, this is the 4th element of the Great
       Observatories program. A free-flying observatory with a lifetime of 5 to
       10 years, it would observe new comets and other primitive bodies in the
       outer solar system, study cosmic birth formation of galaxies, stars and
       planets and distant infrared-emitting galaxies
 
   o Mars Rover Sample Return (MRSR)
       Robotics rover would return samples of Mars' atmosphere and surface to
       Earch for analysis. Possible launch dates: 1996 for imaging orbiter,
       2001 for rover.
 
   o Fire and Ice
       Possible launch in 2001, will use a gravity assist flyby of Earth in
       2003, and use a final gravity assist from Jupiter in 2005, where the
       probe will split into its Fire and Ice components:  The Fire probe
       will journey into the Sun, taking measurements of our star's upper
       atmosphere until it is vaporized by the intense heat.  The Ice probe
       will head out towards Pluto, reaching the tiny world for study by 2016.


 Ron Baalke                       |    (818) 541-2341 x260
 Jet Propulsion Lab  M/S 301-355  |    baalke@mars.jpl.nasa.gov
 4800 Oak Grove Dr.               |
 Pasadena, CA 91109               |