Mars rover mission may require more funding before launch
Posted: Thu, Jun 9, 2011, 8:04 AM ET (1204 GMT)
A report by NASA's inspector general warned that the agency's latest Mars rover mission may require additional funding in order to be ready for launch later this year. The report, by NASA's Office of the Inspector General, found that the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission underestimated its costs by $44 million, and without additional funding the mission could miss its launch window late this year, forcing a two-year delay. MSL, also known as Curiosity, already missed its original launch window in 2009 in order because of development delays. Project officials said after the report's release that they believed the rover was still on track to launch this year, but would likely spend all $22 million of budgeted reserves to do so.
A report by NASA's inspector general warned that the agency's latest Mars rover mission may require additional funding in order to be ready for launch later this year. The report, by NASA's Office of the Inspector General, found that the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) mission underestimated its costs by $44 million, and without additional funding the mission could miss its launch window late this year, forcing a two-year delay. MSL, also known as Curiosity, already missed its original launch window in 2009 in order because of development delays. Project officials said after the report's release that they believed the rover was still on track to launch this year, but would likely spend all $22 million of budgeted reserves to do so.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, March 13
How Rocket Lab Is Powering a Stratospheric Rise In The Space Race
Maxim — 6:12 am ET (1012 GMT) Airbus Awards Rocket Lab Contract to Power Next-Gen OneWeb Constellation for Eutelsat
Business Wire — 6:10 am ET (1010 GMT) Rocket Lab To Buy Laser Comms Maker Mynaric
Aviation Week — 6:10 am ET (1010 GMT) Rocket Lab buys laser communications firm Mynaric for US$75m
New Zealand Herald — 6:09 am ET (1009 GMT) Richard Branson wants to launch space tourist flights from the UK, with Cornish spaceport lined up
LBC — 6:08 am ET (1008 GMT) |
