Proposed mission to Neptune
Posted: Sun Dec 11, 2005 1:17 pm
I saw this article on the BBC website, but haven't yet seen it at spaceref.com, universetoday.com, or any of the other 'usual' space news outlets.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4515752.stm
Apparently, members of the American Geophysical Union are proposing a mission to Neptune, which would leave only Uranus without a dedicated (targeted) exploration mission. (New Horizons sets off for Pluto in January.)
I find the prospects for a mission to Neptune exciting, though I wonder why Neptune ranks higher in priority than Uranus. I have always found the severe axial tilt of Uranus to be one of the most intriguing and important "unsolved mysteries" in the solar system. Something tells me that explaining that will reveal much about the formation and development of the solar system as a whole.
Anyhow, it will be interesting to see what happens with this proposal. Comments, anybody? What are the relative merits of going to Neptune or going to Uranus?
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/4515752.stm
Apparently, members of the American Geophysical Union are proposing a mission to Neptune, which would leave only Uranus without a dedicated (targeted) exploration mission. (New Horizons sets off for Pluto in January.)
I find the prospects for a mission to Neptune exciting, though I wonder why Neptune ranks higher in priority than Uranus. I have always found the severe axial tilt of Uranus to be one of the most intriguing and important "unsolved mysteries" in the solar system. Something tells me that explaining that will reveal much about the formation and development of the solar system as a whole.
Anyhow, it will be interesting to see what happens with this proposal. Comments, anybody? What are the relative merits of going to Neptune or going to Uranus?
