tonight, the NASA informed that following an exhaustive evaluation of the progress of the eight missionsof the 14 that are active, which are currently being carried out, around Marte and the Lunathe special administration decided to extend the exploitation interval, since its productivity and results have shown that they are getting closer to deciphering the enigmas that surround our Solar System.
These are the Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, MAVEN, Mars Science Laboratory (curiosity rover), InSight lander, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter, OSIRIS-REx and New Horizons missions. These projects were selected to continue their exploration work for three more years, if during that period the capacity of their vessels allows it.
Only two of them will last for different intervals. This is the case of OSIRIS-REx and InSight, which will continue their work for nine and one more years, respectively.
Read also: Solar Eclipse of April 2022: when will it be, time and if it will be seen in Mexico
To make this decision, the US space agency submitted to more than 50 reviewers, in charge of ensuring that the scientific return of these missions is completely safe.
NASA made this decision because the expansion of each of these projects will benefit the evolution and progress of NASA’s Science Mission Directorate (SMD), including its use as data relays for NASA’s landers and surface vehicles. Mars, as well as to support other NASA initiatives such as Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS), one of the most anticipated projects in the space spin.
Currently, NASA has 14 spacecraft in operation throughout the Solar System, has 12 missions in formulation and implementation, and partners with international space agencies on another seven.
worm