NASA Introduces Five New Missions

The US National Space Agency presented five new concepts for space exploration projects based on the Discovery program, which focuses on low-cost missions.

According to published information, NASA selected five groups of researchers, who are allocated three million dollars for initial experiments.

The Lucy project involves the study of Jupiter's Trojan asteroids, which will enable scientists to learn more about the early development of the solar system. And the mission of VERITAS (Venus Emissivity, Radio Science, InSAR, Topography, and Spectroscopy) involves compiling a worldwide map of the surface of Venus. The first mission to Venus will be called DAVINCI (Deep Atmosphere Venus Investigation of Noble gases, Chemistry and Imaging - a deep study of the atmosphere, inert gases, chemistry and visualization).

After completing this work, participants will present their programs, of which NASA will select the winners in the fall of 2016, the project of which will begin to be put into practice.

The NEOCAM camera project is timed to the study of near-earth objects, which will be able to record ten times more objects than the current cameras.

Two new missions from this cycle are focused on a no less detailed study of the second planet from the Sun. This metal-rich object accounts for about one hundredth of the entire mass of the main asteroid belt.

Two nominated studies relate to Venus. But not all of these five missions will actually be realized.