NASA is strongly considering a deeper expansive probe on the planet Uranus, and it may initiate concrete plans beginning next year.
A flagship orbiter and probe mission to Uranus is seen as the U.S. space agency's next main planetary science project in the next decade. This is based on the 2022 decadal survey by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine that polls the scientific community on top research priorities - it's prepared every decade.
Possible Timeline Set for NASA's Uranus Mission
As a result of this survey, a NASA official gave a rough timeline for the possible Uranus project. NASA Planetary Science Division director Dr. Lori Glaze said NASA was "...working towards initiating ... some studies of a Uranus orbiter probe mission no later than fiscal year 2024."
The U.S. space agency is also set to "explore a range of complexity and cost options as part of those studies," Glaze said, noting that the Uranus studies could even begin as early as next year.
Possible Spacecraft to be Sent to Uranus
NASA's mission concept is known as the Uranus Orbiter and Probe (UOP), which will have a spacecraft spend a number of years orbiting the ice giant, with a possible probe going inside Uranus' atmosphere.
This planetary study will not only enhance our knowledge of Uranus itself, but it may also provide valuable insight into the evolution of ice giant systems that are scattered across our galaxy.
Uranus Probe Remains a Concept, Early Studies on Potential Mission Scope to Begin in 2024
Such flagship missions entail a huge amount of research and planning. As such, the UOP is still in its concept phase and is not an official mission yet. The target start of the project in 2024 would simply comprise early stages of research to determine the potential scope of the mission. Glaze said that before embarking on the Uranus mission, NASA needs "to make sure that (the mission) can be implemented and executed."
While Glaze has not given a formal timeline yet, she did indicate that a possible launch could transpire in the early 2030s, which means the spacecraft could arrive at Uranus around the 2040s or after. This is because It would take approximately 12 to 15 years for it to travel the two billion-mile (3.2 billion kilometers) distance between Earth and Uranus.
NASA 'Excited' About Prospect of Exploring Uranus; Scientific Interest in Probe 'Fantastic'
Glaze said NASA was "really excited" about potentially embarking on a probe of Uranus. She described as "fantastic" the clear guidance from the scientific community's decadal survey on what NASA's next flagship mission should be, specifically mentioning Uranus as the next planet to explore.
The probe will become the most exhaustive study on a farthermost planet from Earth since a mere flyby by Voyager 2 in 1986. This should further unlock mysteries around the solar system and give scientists unprecedented insight on the cosmic neighborhood.
