Low-Cost Science Mission Concepts for Mars Exploration : March 29–31, 2022, Pasadena, California

Abstract

Emerging small spacecraft capabilities and innovative new mission concepts offer opportunities for compelling science discoveries at Mars at unprecedented low costs. Here, "low-cost" equates to mission costs that fall well below the current Discovery Program cost cap. The recent Mars Architecture Strategy Working Group suggested that small spacecraft missions in the $100–$300M cost range (including delivery) may offer a sweet spot in terms of achievable science per unit cost. Specific topics of interest for this workshop include: Assessment of strategic Mars science questions well-suited to investigation via low-cost, small spacecraft missions; Candidate low-cost mission concepts, relating science objectives to investigations, instruments, and spacecraft architecture; Small spacecraft capabilities for both orbital and landed Mars missions; Innovative mission design approaches, including piggyback, rideshare, and new small launch vehicle capabilities for low-cost delivery of payloads to Mars; New miniatured instruments, avionics, and subsystems enabling highly capable small spacecraft; Opportunities for international and commercial partnerships; Emerging commercial NewSpace capabilities that can be leveraged for low-cost Mars exploration.