Discovery Series (United States), SPACECRAFT - SCIENTIFIC

Current Status
As of 2006, ten Discovery missions have been selected, and eight have been launched. The Dawn and Kepler missions will launch in 2007 and 2008 respectively. Please see the individual entries on each recent mission for a more detailed description of the spacecraft and the mission's science objectives. NASA has also selected two Discovery Missions of Opportunity, mission extensions to already orbiting craft and/or contributions to another nation's mission. These are: the Analyzer of Space Plasma and Energetic Atoms (ASPERA-3), and the Moon Mineralogy Mapper, or M-Cube (M3). The ASPERA-3 instrument is aboard the European Space Agency's (ESA) Mars Express. NASA will fund further study of the interaction of Mars' atmosphere with the solar wind. M3 is an instrument that will fly on Chandrayaan-1, India's first Lunar mission, scheduled to launch in 2008. M3 is designed to map the Moon's mineral composition. MESSENGER reached Venus on 24 October 2006, and is scheduled to carry out a second flyby on 5 June 2007. Deep Impact also remains in orbit after accomplishing its primary mission. NASA will likely approve two further Deep Impact Missions of Opportunity, extending the scientific usefulness of that spacecraft until the end of 2008. Discovery Series MissionsDiscovery Series Missions of Opportunity

Background
Discovery missions are science missions that concentrate efforts and funding on exploring the bodies and phenomena within our solar system. NASA's 1991 strategic plan included the Discovery programme of near-Earth missions for the first time. Discovery missions are rapid turnaround missions, each costing less than a total of USD425 million. This price cap must include everything: spacecraft design, development and assembly; launch costs; mission operations; and data processing. NASA expects to receive for its investment, a focused science return from each Discovery mission; mature instruments and spacecraft technology should provide simplicity and reliability. Only flight proven launchers, no larger than Delta II, are employed. Each proposal requires a consortium that could include a NASA centre or other federally funded research centre and industry and university partners. Each mission must take no longer than 36 months to plan, from project beginning to launch. NASA aims to launch a Discovery mission every 12 to 24 months. The first two Discovery missions were NEAR in February 1996, and Mars Pathfinder in December 1996. These projects were first approved and funded by Congress in 1994.

The complete article appears in the following publication:
Publication Title	Jane's Space Systems and Industry
Publication date	Jan 18, 2007
Section	SPACECRAFT - SCIENTIFIC
Publication synopsis	Profiling hundreds of spacecraft, launchers, manufacturers and operators, Jane's Space Systems and Industry provides a global view of the development, application and support of space-based systems. Human, communications, imaging, scientific, Research & Development and other space applications are covered. Key objectives, developments and technical specifications of launch vehicles and in-service spacecraft are reviewed, including microsatellites and the new generation of small launchers. Space system prime contractors and major suppliers are profiled, with detailed listings of their space-related activities. Civil, military and commercial enterprises that buy, operate and support space technology and systems are covered in detail, supporting market research and procurement requirements.
The depth and breadth of information covers	Civil, commercial, scientific and military satellites Civil, commercial and military space operators Human spaceflight programmes Launch vehicles Space launch and spacecraft industry Space launch logs Worldwide launch facilities
Different sections provide in-depth detail covering	Analysis Civil Space Organisations - Launch Facilities Civil Space Organisations - Multi-National Agencies Civil Space Organisations - National Agencies Civil Space Organisations - Research & Development Civil Space Organisations - Satellite Operators Commercial Space Services - Launch Facilities Commercial Space Services - Satellite Operators Contractors Glossary Space Defence - Bases Space Defence - Operators Space Defence - Research & Development Space Industry - Joint Ventures Space Industry - Major Sub-Contractors Space Industry - Prime Contractors Space Launch Vehicles - Orbital Space Launch Vehicles - Sub-Orbital Space Logs - Logs Spacecraft - Communications Spacecraft - Defence Spacecraft - Earth Observation Spacecraft - Human Spacecraft - Navigation Spacecraft - Scientific Spacecraft - Technology Demonstration

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