NASA Selects Inexpensive Space Project Candidates

coondoggie brings us a Networkworld report detailing NASA's selection of six mission proposals for further study by the Small Explorer (SMEX) Program. The goal of the program is to develop cheap, tightly focused science missions (PDF). Among the selected proposals are a satellite telescope bank for use in detecting exoplanets, and a solar coronograph which will study solar wind and coronal ejections. Networkworld provided links with more detailed information on most of the projects.

Comments

Re:Guarunteed Pick

[thue]

Meanwhile, discoveries of "Earth-sized" planets remain rare "

Try "non-existent" :). The smallest known exoplanet is Gliese 876 d, with a mass of a least 5.88 times Earth's.

Re:Guarunteed Pick

[Ihlosi]

I liked that part... how the hell do they know it will be more than 1,000?

Statistics. We now know that planetary systems are fairly common.

And how do they know what size?

Well, the lower size limit is given by the detection sensitivity ("If we're lucky, we can find an Earth-sized rock, but not a Mars- or Mercury-sized one."). The upper limit is given by the mass at which a lump of gas and rock starts initiating nuclear fusion and doesn't count as a planet anymore.

If they are already aware that there is these planets, then wouldnt it be more accurate to say "and finally see over 1,000 planets that we already assume exist mathematically"?

No, we don't know anything about these planets yet, but from our current knowledge about the likelihood of planetary systems we can guess how many planets we're likely to find if we examine X million stars.

Re:Guarunteed Pick

[Geoffrey.landis]

The smallest known exoplanet is Gliese 876 d, with a mass of a least 5.88 times Earth's.

The smallest known exoplanet is the fourth planet of the pulsar B1257+12, with a mass considerably smaller than Earth. Many of the pulsar planets are Earth sized and smaller.

Re:What is the point?

[Jonathan McDowell]

These spacecraft are also low mass, and can fly on smaller rockets like the Pegasus, so the total mission cost is a lot lower than a big James Webb Telescope 'flagship' mission.
  They are also a lot less capable, but can solve one specific science problem while Hubble, Chandra etc. are general facilities that can solve many different science problems - but not all problems, which leaves some nice 'discovery space' for the small missions. Also, SMEX missions are done in a finite number of years, and are thought of as good training for young scientists. I work on a big mission, but I think the small missions are crucial for the field's health.
  Of course, you're right that bringing the launch cost down would be even better.