Design A Discovery Mission

> You have been hired as the Payload Manager for the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory. Your job is to design a NASA Discovery Mission to the moons of Mars, Deimos and Phobos. As the Payload Manager, your responsibility is to choose the science instruments that will go on the spacecraft. You will need to select them carefully so that they meet the mission's science objectives and stay within the constraints of the NASA Discovery Program. The NASA Discovery Program motto is "Faster, Better, Cheaper." NASA will award a contract to the mission that has the lowest cost while still accomplishing all the required tasks. Your ultimate goal is to win the NASA contract.

Solving a problem requires thoughtful planning. You must complete the following steps in order to be successful at this task.

  1. Start by gathering information about the NASA Discovery program using the given web links. Make sure you understand all restrictions that will be placed upon your mission.

  2. Gather information on the moons of Mars, Deimos and Phobos, by following the four given web links. If you have time, explore the World Wide Web (WWW) further for more information on Deimos and Phobos by using the links to search engines on the WWW.

  3. Read the list of science objectives for the mission. Make sure you understand what the goals of the mission are so you can select the most appropriate instruments.

  4. Examine the cost and weight limitations that must be adhered to for the mission. Use these limitations to figure out how much money you may spend on the science instruments and how much they can weigh.

  5. Study the chart of instruments that lists cost, weight, and power usage. Each of the instruments and some of the categories have links to descriptions of the instrument or category. Follow these links to decide which instruments would be necessary. Keep in mind the goals of your mission as well as the constraints on your mission.

  6. Using the information you've gathered, write up your final proposal following the given instructions.
The Discovery Program
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