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.