Planetary Science Strategic Guidance
Documents and reports that help guide NASA's Planetary Science Division activities.
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Decadal Survey Report
"Origins, Worlds, and Life: A Decadal Strategy for Planetary Science and Astrobiology 2023-2032" (NASEM, 2023)
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NASA Response to the 2023-2032 Planetary Science and Astrobiology Decadal Survey
NASA Planetary Missions Concept Study Reports (Completed 2020)
Mercury Lander: Transformative Science from the Surface of the Innermost Planet
Venus Flagship Mission: A Mission to Explore the Habitability of Venus and the Origins of Earth-sized Planets Both Near and Far
The Lunar Geophysical Network
Intrepid Planetary Mission Concept Study Report
In Situ Geochronology for the Next Decade
Mars MORIE: Mars Orbiter for Resources, Ices, and Environments
Mars MOSAIC: Mars Orbiters for Surface Atmosphere-Ionosphere Connections
Exploration of Ceres Habitability
Enceladus Orbilander: A Flagship Mission Concept for Astrobiology
Neptune Odyssey: Mission to the Neptune-Triton System
Persephone: A Pluto-System Orbiter and Kuiper Belt Orbiter
Decadal Survey-Requested Mission Studies (Completed 2022)
ADVENTS: Assessment and Discovery of Venus Past Evolution and Near-term climactic and Geophysical State
Calypso: In Search of Ocean Worlds in the Uranian System and Kuiper Belt
CORAL: Centaur ORbiter And Lander
CROCODILE: Cryogenic Return Of Cometary Organics, Dust, and Ice for Laboratory Exploration
Enceladus Multiple Flybys: Is There Life Beyond Earth?
Endurance: Lunar South Pole-Altken Basin Traverse and Sample Return Rover
INSPIRE: In Situ Solar System Polar Ice Roving Explorer
Intrepid-Endurance-Inspire Comparisons
Mars Life Explorer
Planetary Defense Missions: Rapid Mission Architecture Study
Titan Orbiter and Probe
Triton Ocean World Surveyor: A Neptune Orbiter and Triton Explorer
Uranus Orbiter and Probe: Journey to an Ice Giant System
Uranus Orbiter and Probe: Appendix C, Additional Details
Previous Decadal Survey Reports
Vision and Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022 (NASEM, 2011)
Visions Into Voyages for Planetary Science in the Decade 2013-2022, A Midterm Review (NASEM, 2018)
NASA Response to Decadal Survey Midterm Review (2019)
New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy (NASEM, 2003)
Other NASEM Reports
Signed Curation Facilities Response Final
Finding Hazardous Asteroids Using Infrared and Visible Wavelength Telescopes
Report Series: Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science (Commercial Aspects)
Report Series: Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science (Planetary Science Aspects)
Review of the Restructured Research and Analysis Programs of NASA's Planetary Science Division
Strategic Investments in Instrumentation and Facilities for Extraterrestrial Sample Curation and Analysis
Report Series: Committee on Astrobiology and Planetary Science, Getting Ready for the Next Planetary Science Decadal Survey
Grading NASA's Solar System Exploration Program
Extending Science: NASA's Space Mission Extensions and the Senior Review Process
Near-Earth Object Surveys and Hazard Mitigation Strategies, Interim Report
Achieving Science with CubeSats: Thinking Inside the Box
NASA PSD Reviews
MAVEN ARB Report
Final report following loss of signal from NASA's MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere and Volatile Evolution) spacecraft.
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NASA Planetary Mission Senior Reviews (PMSR)
NASA’s planetary science missions near the end of their prime mission (PM) or extended mission (EM) may propose an extension. The Senior Review of these proposals typically happens every three years, by a panel made of experts from academia, NASA, and industry.
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Implementation Plan for a NASA Integrated Lunar Science Strategy in the Artemis Era
This November 2024 Implementation Plan provides a snapshot of NASA’s plans to implement the strategy recommended in the decadal survey ("Origins, Worlds, and Life") and to address Moon to Mars objectives relevant to lunar science.
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Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review
Terms of Reference
Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review
IRTF Report
Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review
Panel Cover Letter
Infrared Telescope Facility (IRTF) Independent Review
Evaluation Report
Assessment of NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) Research Coordination Network (RCN)
NExSS Report
Assessment of NASA’s Nexus for Exoplanet System Science (NExSS) Research Coordination Network (RCN)
NASA Response
Community White Papers
PSD Community Announcements
NASA Venus Science Group
NASA has selected six scientists to serve on the newly established Venus Science Coordination group, a joint committee of NASA and ESA to identify new, unanticipated scientific approaches and outcomes based on synergies among the missions to Venus and to suggest studies to enhance their overall scientific return.
