The Discovery Program is a series of Solar System exploration missions funded by the American space agency NASA through its Planetary Missions Program Office. The cost of each mission is capped at a lower level than missions from NASA's New Frontiers or Flagship Programs, so Discovery missions tend to be more focused on a specific scientific goal rather than serving a general purpose. The program was founded in 1990. Discovery missions are solicited through a call for proposals on any science topic and assessed through peer review, and selected missions are led by a scientist called the principal investigator. As of June 2021, the most recently selected missions were VERITAS and DAVINCI, the fifteenth and sixteenth in the program.
Facts
Mission Type
Mission Type (category)Robotic / Uncrewed Mission 1 Connections
Operated By
Source Wikipedia, Discovery Program
Spacecraft Of
Source Wikipedia - Deep Impact (spacecraft)
Source Wikipedia, Discovery Program
Source Wikipedia - Lucy (spacecraft)
Source Lunar Prospector - Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia, Discovery Program
Source NEAR Shoemaker - Wikipedia
Source Psyche (spacecraft) - Wikipedia
Source Wikipedia - Stardust (spacecraft)
Sources
1. Wikipedia, Discovery Program
Lead: type
The Discovery Program is a series of Solar System exploration missions
Operated By: NASA, Lead: operator
funded by the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
In Group: NASA Outer Solar System and Small-Body Missions, Lead: family
a series of Solar System exploration missions
Spacecraft Of: Genesis, Article text
In October 1997, NASA selected Genesis and CONTOUR as the next Discovery missions
Includes: Genesis, Article text
In October 1997, NASA selected Genesis and CONTOUR as the next Discovery missions
Spacecraft Of: MESSENGER, Article text
In July 1999, NASA selected MESSENGER and Deep Impact as the next Discovery Program missions.
Includes: MESSENGER, Article text
In July 1999, NASA selected MESSENGER and Deep Impact as the next Discovery Program missions.
View the SourceNEAR Shoemaker - Wikipedia
Spacecraft Of: NEAR Shoemaker, Article text
The NEAR mission was the first launch of NASA's Discovery Program, a series of small-scale spacecraft designed to proceed from development to flight in under three years for a cost of less than $150 million.
Includes: NEAR Shoemaker, Article text
The NEAR mission was the first launch of NASA's Discovery Program, a series of small-scale spacecraft designed to proceed from development to flight in under three years for a cost of less than $150 million.
View the SourceWikipedia - Deep Impact (spacecraft)
Spacecraft Of: Deep Impact, Article text
In 1999, a revised and technologically upgraded mission proposal, dubbed Deep Impact, was accepted and funded as part of NASA's Discovery Program of low-cost spacecraft.
Includes: Deep Impact, Article text
In 1999, a revised and technologically upgraded mission proposal, dubbed Deep Impact, was accepted and funded as part of NASA's Discovery Program of low-cost spacecraft.
View the SourceWikipedia - Stardust (spacecraft)
Spacecraft Of: Stardust, Article text
Stardust was competitively selected in the fall of 1995 as a NASA Discovery Program mission of low-cost with highly focused science goals.
Includes: Stardust, Article text
Stardust was competitively selected in the fall of 1995 as a NASA Discovery Program mission of low-cost with highly focused science goals.
View the SourceLunar Prospector - Wikipedia
Spacecraft Of: Lunar Prospector, Article text
Lunar Prospector was the third mission selected by NASA for full development and construction as part of the Discovery Program.
Includes: Lunar Prospector, Article text
Lunar Prospector was the third mission selected by NASA for full development and construction as part of the Discovery Program.
View the SourceWikipedia - Lucy (spacecraft)
Spacecraft Of: Lucy, Article text
On 4 January 2017, Lucy was chosen, along with the Psyche mission, as NASA's Discovery Program missions 13 and 14 respectively.
Includes: Lucy, Article text
On 4 January 2017, Lucy was chosen, along with the Psyche mission, as NASA's Discovery Program missions 13 and 14 respectively.
View the SourcePsyche (spacecraft) - Wikipedia
Spacecraft Of: Psyche, Article text
Psyche ( SY-kee) is a NASA Discovery Program space mission launched on October 13, 2023, to explore the origin of planetary cores by orbiting and studying the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche beginning in 2029.
Includes: Psyche, Article text
Psyche ( SY-kee) is a NASA Discovery Program space mission launched on October 13, 2023, to explore the origin of planetary cores by orbiting and studying the metallic asteroid 16 Psyche beginning in 2029.
View the SourceReader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.