Blown Budget Threatens NASA's Mars Plans

Space Agency Must Decide Whether To Delay, Cancel Or Go Ahead With New Rover Launch

(AP)  Will NASA's flagship mission to Mars fly next year?

The space agency could decide as early as Friday whether to cancel, delay or proceed with plans to launch a nuclear-powered, SUV-size rover to the red planet.

NASA has already sunk $1.5 billion into the Mars Science Laboratory, which is pricier than expected. The mega-rover will roam the surface and drill into rocks for clues to whether the planet ever possessed an environment capable of supporting primitive life.

Doug McCuistion, who heads the Mars exploration program at NASA headquarters, told scientists in recent public meetings that he expects the mission's total cost to run over by more than 30 percent. If it goes over that threshold, Congress would have the right to intervene and use its power to end the project on its own.

Managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California, the project has been plagued by development problems and ballooning costs that caught headquarters' attention. McCuistion told a gathering of Mars scientists last month that NASA was keeping a close eye on the project's progress and costs and participating in weekly reviews with JPL.

From the outset, the Mars Science Lab proved to be an engineering challenge due to its size and capability. The 9-foot-long robot geologist is bigger and can drive farther than its twin predecessors, Spirit and Opportunity, which are still alive after four years. It also carries some of the most sophisticated instruments, including a laser that can zap rocks from afar.

The mission's financial woes took many in the science community, who fear that other projects will suffer to pay for the mega-rover, by surprise.

"The magnitude of the increases has been mind-boggling," said geologist John Mustard of Brown University. "It has sent a shock wave to the Mars program and beyond to the planetary community."

If NASA pushes to launch in 2009 as planned, it will have to find the money to get the rover ready. Any delay until 2010 or 2011 will add at least $300 million to the mission's price tag.

Alex Dery Snider, a spokeswoman for the House Science Committee, said members were concerned about the extra cost and want to know how NASA will solve the problem.

Some scientists outside the Mars research community said canceling the project does not make sense as so much money has already been invested.

"We've got to continue our exploration of Mars, but in a way that's rational and sensible," said Frances Bagenal of the University of Colorado, Boulder.

[terrapin78]

I vote cancel the Mars Expedition.

If we want to go to Mars, then let the PRIVATE SECTOR do it.

[beerman05200]

People by the thousands are facing losing their homes, and we are wasting billions on this?

[lewiston14]

Sad that it came to this but I think mars is a bit out of reach for us at the moment. We just move to slow. Yes we can send a robot spend a year waiting and with luck hope it can land but nothing takes the place of a person and a person wont last the trip. I like the space programs BUT so was there life (something beyond a microbe)on mars once because it does not seem to be there now and how do you place a value on knowing?

[actornaught]

Makes want to puke that we could have something like 350 of these missions for the price of the so-called ball-out.

How long does it take to spend $2B in Iraq? Hope they like the free healthcare we''re giving them....

[displeased]

People by the thousands are facing losing their homes, and we are wasting billions on this?
Posted by Beerman05200

Research must go on regardless of the financial decisions people make.

[displeased]

If we want to go to Mars, then let the PRIVATE SECTOR do it.
Posted by Terrapin78

How about it! The government is extremely wasteful when it comes to projects.

[engineer42-2009]

What I don''t understand is why when the James Webb Space Telescope managed by NASA''s Goddard Space Flight Center (which is 300% over budget and 3 years late) has troubles, nobody seems to care, but let a JPL project have an overrun, everybody gets all excited.