Project Prometheus Study

Dear AAS Colleagues,


At the request of Edward J. Weiler, NASA's Associate Administrator for Space Science, the National Research Council is conducting a study to update the findings of recent decadal survey reports to take into account new capabilities resulting from Project Prometheus. The purposes of the study are:

1. To identify high priority space science objectives that could be
uniquely enabled or greatly enhanced by development of advanced
spacecraft nuclear power and propulsion systems; and

2. To make recommendations for an advanced technology development
program for long-term future space science mission nuclear power
and propulsion capabilities.

MOST IMPORTANTLY, the overall goal of the study is not to rewrite or reprioritize the decadal surveys drafted in the last few years by the science communities served by NASA's Office of Space Science. Rather, the aim is to identify scientifically promising missions that might effectively utilize Prometheus technologies and be ready for implementation in the timeframe 2015 to 2030 and beyond.

In other words, the study will identify mission concepts which, following additional study by NASA and the space-science community, will be sufficiently mature for prioritization within the context of the next set of decadal surveys.

A high level steering group and multiple panels have been established to conduct this update.

The membership of the Solar System Exploration Panel consists of:
Richard Binzel (Chair), Reta Beebe (Vice-Chair), Anita Cochran,
Michael Duke, Krishan Khurana, Martha Gilmore, Heidi Hammel, James
Head, Ralph Lorenz, Louise Prockter, Thomas Spilker, and David
Stevenson.


The membership of the Astronomy and Astrophysics Panel consists of:
Sterl Phinney (Chair), William Cochran (Vice-Chair), Gary Bernstein,
Webster Cash, Michael Kaplan, Victoria Kaspi, Daniel Lester,
Ho Jung Paik, and Edward Wright.

Please see the community input website for more details.

We welcome AAS community input via the website or directly via email to (subject line Prometheus). Your input stands the greatest chance of being acted upon if received prior to 2 August, 2004.

Best regards,


Richard Binzel and Sterl Phinney