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from the satellite-version-of-packing-peanuts dept.
NASA has selected 10 studies that propose using small satellites to study Venus, the Moon, asteroids (including 99942 Apophis), Mars, Phobos and Deimos, Uranus, and Jupiter:
NASA has selected 10 studies under the Planetary Science Deep Space SmallSat Studies (PSDS3) program to develop mission concepts using small satellites to investigate Venus, Earth's moon, asteroids, Mars and the outer planets.
For these studies, small satellites are defined as less than 180 kilograms in mass (about 400 pounds). CubeSats are built to standard specifications of 1 unit (U), which is equal to about 4x4x4 inches (10x10x10 centimeters). They often are launched into orbit as auxiliary payloads, significantly reducing costs.
One standout would use an atmospheric probe to measure "vertical cloud structure, stratification, and winds to help understand the chemical and physical processes that shape the atmosphere of Uranus". If launched, it would be the first mission to Uranus since Voyager 2.
Also at The Space Reporter.
Previously: NASA to Focus on Small Satellites
(Score: 2) by takyon on Tuesday March 28 2017, @04:43AM
According to the Space Reporter, there were 102 proposals, and proposals not chosen at this time could be chosen in the future (hopefully the near future). If anyone can find the full list, post it.
A return to Uranus is great news (if it gets past the concept stage). Unfortunately, there's nothing for Neptune just yet.
From the list [wikipedia.org]: Uranus has 2 moons with possible subsurface oceans, Titania and Oberon, while Neptune has Triton. Those are the 8th, 10th, and 7th largest moons [wikipedia.org] in the solar system.
Here's more on SNAP: http://www.lpi.usra.edu/opag/meetings/feb2017/posters/Sayanagi.pdf [usra.edu]
[SIG] 10/28/2017: Soylent Upgrade v14 [soylentnews.org]