| 1. | Planetary Protection schemata are beginning to impede scientific progress rather than help it; Mars Sample Return, which could be the most significant planetary event in the next two decades, appears to be it's first victim. Let's all go back to the Apollo era where acceptable risks were taken and we didn't put things off for 20-30 years because of irrational fears. |
| 2. | Keep the momentum up for Mars missions. This program has been very successful and represents our best effort at immersing ourselves in the conditions of another planet, and thereby understanding a world that is the closest to Earth in our Solar system. |
| 3. | Network science on Mars! |
| 4. | I strongly believe that the most fruitful scientific opportunities lie at present in the continuation of Mars exploration and the exploration of other solar system bodies by robotic spacecraft of the Small and/or Medium class, the continuation and further deployment of space telescopes and the Research and Analysis Programs that support these missions. Furthermore I believe these programs have caught the public imagination and have their strong support. Our nation will be making a serious mistake if we allow these now vigorous and productive programs to be decimated by the economic neccessities associated with mounting a costly but scientifically poorly justified manned mission program as called for by the Bush administration. |
| 5. | I am thouroughly pleased with the Space Exploration Program as it is. I have since landing, been a student collaborator on the Mars Exploration Rover Team. I do fear though the move toward getting more people further into space to Mars and such, will dramatically impact the stepping stone efforts made by robots. So far the MER misssion has been about $1B. It's a lot but it is a rather large magnitude of bang-for-the-buck science! I am very intriuged by the idea of Manned flight to Moon and Mars and beyond. We should slow down only a bit though. Work on perfecting remote travel, landings, and takeoffs. Send robotic colonies to build that can double as mobil science laboratories, like the upcoming MSL going to Mars in 2009(?). |
| 6. | Missions to a greater variety of bodies are needed. Too many spacecraft are being sent to Mars when missions to bodies not yet even visited (e.g. DAWN to Ceres and Vesta) barely survive being cut. |
| 7. | The U.S. is funding too many Mars missions. They should be cut back to once every 10-15 years, so scientists have an opportunity to analyze the data from the previous mission and determine what the proper follow-on mission should be. Too much of the taxpayer's money is being wasted in having a mission every 2 years. |