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OUTCOME 2.3: ASCERTAIN THE CONTENT, ORIGIN, AND EVOLUTION OF THE SOLAR 

SYSTEM AND THE POTENTIAL FOR LIFE ELSEWHERE. 

Planetary Science’s missions have revolutionized understanding of the origin and history of the solar 

system. NASA has missions circling the innermost planet, Mercury, and heading for the outer reaches of 

the solar system, where Pluto orbits among other Kuiper Belt objects. Its missions have orbited and roved 

the surface of Mars, finding evidence of liquid water. Closer to home, Planetary Science uses groundbased sensors in coordination with the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Air Force to survey the 

volume of near-Earth space to detect, track, catalog, and characterize near-Earth objects that may either 

pose hazards to Earth or provide destinations and resources for future exploration.

NASA’s robotic science missions are paving the way for understanding the origin and evolution of the 

solar system and identifying past and present habitable locations. With this knowledge, NASA is enabling 

human space exploration by studying and characterizing planetary environments beyond Earth and 

identifying possible resources that will enable safe and effective human missions to destinations beyond 

low Earth orbit. 

Robotic explorers gather data to help scientists understand how the planets formed, what triggered 

different evolutionary paths among planets, what processes are active, and how Earth formed, evolved, 

and became habitable. To search for evidence of life beyond Earth, scientists use this data to map zones of 

habitability, study the chemistry of unfamiliar worlds, and unveil the processes that lead to conditions 

necessary for life.

Providing National Scientific Capabilities in Planetary Sciences 

NASA continues to develop the Nation’s capabilities in support of NASA’s science objectives by 

funding research and mission development performed by scientists and engineers at universities, 

research centers, private sector organizations, and NASA Centers. The majority of research awards also 

include funding for postdoctoral fellows, graduate students, and undergraduate students, thereby 

supporting the education and training of future scientists and engineers.

Programs and activities serving this goal in FY 2012 include:

• The Research Opportunities in Space and Earth Science annual solicitation;

• Basic technology development in instrumentation and power systems;

• Graduate student, postdoctoral and early career Earth and space science fellowships; 

• Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers; 

• Hands-on Project Experience; and

• Venus Transit public educational and viewing event.

The establishment, operation, and maintenance of necessary facilities is critical to the Nation’s 

scientific capabilities. In FY 2012, NASA provided:

• Operations, basic data analysis, and resources for operation centers for the MSL Curiosity, 

Cassini, Dawn (now ended), LRO, New Horizons, the Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity, 

MRO, Juno, MESSENGER, Mars Odyssey, and GRAIL (now ended) missions; 
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• The Planetary Data System (PDS), which archives all NASA planetary science mission data 

and provides open access to the science community and the public through the PDS discipline 

nodes, including Atmospheres, Geosciences, Imaging, Navigational and Ancillary Information, 

Planetary Plasma Interactions, Planetary Rings, and Small Bodies;

• Facilities operation of ground-based Infrared Telescope Facility and Keck Observatories and 

Astromaterials Curation, including lunar and extraterrestrial specimens; and 

• Support for the NASA Astrobiology Institute, the NASA Lunar Science Institute, and analysis 

working groups providing cross-disciplinary community engagement and research 

collaborations.

NASA requires that all funded research investigations publish their results in open, peer reviewed 

science literature, ensuring that data and knowledge are captured. Each year, the Planetary Science 

Subcommittee of NASA’s external advisory Science Committee evaluates the progress made by NASA 

toward each science objective. In FY 2012, the subcommittee found that expectations had been fully 

met by research results that included those discussed below.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.1.1: Provide national scientific capabilities through necessary 

skilled researchers and supporting knowledge base. (In support of objective 2.3.1: "Inventory solar 

system objects and identify the processes active in and among them.")

FY11 NASA provides the skilled researchers and supporting planetary science knowledge base 

necessary for the Nation’s scientific capabilities as detailed. 

Dawn at Vesta

The Dawn spacecraft completed its observations at the giant asteroid Vesta. The results 

from Dawn warranted an entire issue of Science (May 11, 2012) dedicated to the new 

findings. Results show asteroid Vesta has geomorphological features such as varied 

topography and depositional and erosional environments indicating active surface processes. 

Data from the Dawn spacecraft reveal Vesta to be a dwarf planet with an inner iron core like 

the Moon and rocky planets.

Satellite of Pluto Discovered

Researchers from NASA's New Horizons mission to Pluto used the Hubble Space Telescope

to discover a fifth moon orbiting Pluto in images taken during June–July 2012. The moon, 

tentatively called "P5," has a diameter of about 15 kilometers, making it the smallest and 

faintest of Pluto's moons yet discovered. The image of the new moon and other images will 

enable the mission team to assess the safety of several candidate trajectories for New 

Horizons as it passes near Pluto in July 2015. 

Can a Moon Have a Moon? Saturn’s Mysterious Iapetus May Have Had One

Two NASA-funded research groups proposed that Iapetus, Saturn’s outermost major moon, 

once had its own satellite. Both groups propose that this “subsatellite” was formed by 

collision with another moon during Iapetus’ formation. The research groups are 

investigating the fate of the lost moon. One team suggests that the subsatellite spiraled out 

Green

FY12

Green
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from Iapetus and was responsible for Iapetus’ very slow spin before ultimately being lost. 

The other research team proposes that the subsatellite ultimately spiraled back toward 

Iapetus, breaking up into a debris ring, and forming the equatorial accretion ridge.

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-1: Demonstrate planned progress in inventorying solar system objects and identifying the 

processes active in and among them. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science 

Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Multiple Programs

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None None PS-11-1 

Green

PS-12-1 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

PS-13-1: Demonstrate planned progress in inventorying solar system objects and identifying 

FY13 Update the processes active in and among them. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA’s 2010 

Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

PS-14-1: Demonstrate planned progress in inventorying solar system objects and identifying 

FY14 the processes active in and among them. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA’s 2010 

Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.1.2: By 2017, launch at least two missions in support of objective 

2.3.1.

FY11 The purpose of this performance goal is to design, develop, and launch satellites in support 

Green of objective 2.3.1, as outlined in the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s 2010 Science 

FY12 Plan. NASA selected the Origins-Spectral Interpretation-Resource Identification-SecurityRegolith Explorer, or OSIRIS-REx, project in FY 2011 through a NASA Announcement of 

Opportunity. Planned for launch in 2016, it will be the first U.S. mission to bring samples 

from an asteroid back to Earth. The project team chose to extend the formulation phase, 

Green

which will help reduce mission risk. OSIRIS-REx successfully conducted a Mission Design 

Review on May 8-10, 2012. The Preliminary Design Review initially planned for FY 2012 

will be held in March 2013. 

NASA selected the second mission serving this performance goal in August 2012 from three 

Discovery 12 concept studies. Also planned for launch in 2016, InSight will take the first 

look into the deep interior of Mars to see why it evolved differently as a terrestrial planet 

from Earth.
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Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-2: Complete New Frontiers 3 Preliminary Design Review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): New Frontiers

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None 10PS04

Green

PS-11-3 

Green

PS-12-2 

Yellow

Why this APG was not achieved: 

At the time of the performance plan update, NASA had not completed the final negotiation on the procurement 

the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission. 

The final agreement resulted in a proposed extended Phase B for the OSIRIS-REx project, which moved the 

Preliminary Design Review (the APG milestone) beyond fiscal year 2012, with the planned completion of the 

Mission Definition Review in FY 2012 instead. NASA made this change to reduce risk to cost and schedule 

performance for the project.

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-5: Complete the OSIRIS-REx Preliminary Design Review (PDR).

FY14 PS-14-2: Complete the OSIRIS-REx Critical Design Review (CDR). 

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-3: Complete the Discovery 12 mission concept studies.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Discovery 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None None None PS-12-3 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-2: Initiate the preliminary design for the Discovery 12 mission.

FY14 PS-14-3: Complete InSight Mission (Discovery 12) Critical Design Review.
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Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.2.1: Provide national scientific capabilities through necessary 

skilled researchers and supporting knowledge base. (In support of objective 2.3.2: "Improve 

understanding of how the Sun's family of planets, satellites, and minor bodies originated and 

evolved.")

FY11 NASA provides the skilled researchers and supporting planetary science knowledge base 

necessary for the Nation’s scientific capabilities. 

LRO Reveals Scars of Lunar Tectonics 

Scars observed on the Moon by NASA’s Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) suggest that 

the Moon was not fully molten when it first formed. Cooling of a fully melted moon would 

have erased any localized stretching that formed the features seen today. With the recent 

imaging capability of the high-resolution camera onboard LRO, new discoveries about the 

formation of the Moon are coming into focus. High-resolution images show a recent graben, 

or depression, bordered by parallel faults formed by tectonics, leaving a scar on the lunar 

surface. The graben is less than 50 million years old based on its lack of craters and 

micrometeorite infill. 

GRAIL Redefines The Lunar Gravity Field

The most accurate global gravity model of the Moon to date has been developed from the 

first three months of Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) data, with surface 

resolution as small as 23 kilometers. The new model reveals a much more detailed lunar 

landscape, particularly over the lunar far side, showing the gravity signals of craters and 

basins not seen before and with an accuracy at least an order of magnitude more precise 

than any previous model. This data also reveal lunar surface features and provide 

measurements of the interior composition, subsurface structure, and the lunar thermal 

history.

Volatile-rich Terrains on Mercury

The MESSENGER spacecraft has sent back a wealth of data from the innermost planet. One 

of the major discoveries from orbit is of “hollows,” shallow, rimless, irregularly shaped 

depressions found in impact craters all over Mercury. The strange landforms can be tens of 

meters to a few kilometers wide. The origin of the hollows is not yet known, but one of the 

most likely formation mechanisms involves recent loss of volatiles through some 

combination of sublimation, space weathering, outgassing, or pyroclastic volcanism. These 

features support the inference that Mercury’s interior contains higher abundances of volatile 

materials than predicted by most scenarios for the formation of the solar system’s innermost 

planet. Although Mercury was thought to be relatively old and dead, MESSENGER images 

of the hollows show that parts of it may be active today.

Green

FY12

Green

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.
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Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-4: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding how the Sun's family of planets, 

satellites, and minor bodies originated and evolved. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 

2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Multiple Programs

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE1 8PS01 9PS1 10PS01 PS-11-4 PS-12-4 

Green Green Green Green Green Green

Planned Annual Performance

PS-13-3: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding how the Sun's family of planets, 

FY13 Update satellites, and minor bodies originated and evolved. Progress relative to the objectives in 

NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

PS-14-4: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding how the Sun's family of planets, 

FY14 satellites, and minor bodies originated and evolved. Progress relative to the objectives in 

NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-5: Complete MESSENGER mission success criteria.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Discovery 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE2

Green

8PS02

Green None None PS-11-5 Green

PS-12-5 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.2.2: By 2015, launch at least three missions in support of 

objective 2.3.2.

FY11 The purpose of this performance goal is to design, develop, and launch satellites in support 

Green of objective 2.3.2, as outlined in the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s 2010 Science 

FY12 Plan. On August 5, 2011, NASA launched the first mission, Juno, supporting this 

performance goal. It is on its way to the largest planet in the solar system, Jupiter, to collect 

data that will help scientists better understand how this gas giant planet formed and evolved. 

Shortly into FY 2013, Juno headed back toward the inner solar system to fly past Earth, 

Green

gaining a gravity boost that sped it toward Jupiter. 

NASA also is researching solar system bodies closer to home in support of its science 

objectives. On September 10, 2011, NASA launched the twin GRAIL spacecraft into orbit 

around the Moon to map lunar gravity and use that information to increase understanding of 

the Moon's interior and thermal history. By May 2012, GRAIL had accomplished its 

mission success criteria. 
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The third mission also will be focused on lunar research. NASA completed the DeltaSystems Integration Review for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer 

(LADEE) on August 9, 2012, giving the project the go-ahead to integrate the systems into 

the spacecraft bus and begin testing. LADEE is planned for launch in late 2013, within the 

completion timeframe for this performance goal. LADEE will orbit the Moon to gather 

detailed information about the lunar atmosphere, conditions near the surface, and 

environmental influences on lunar dust.

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-2: Complete New Frontiers 3 Preliminary Design Review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): New Frontiers

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None 10PS04

Green

PS-11-3 

Green

PS-12-2 

Yellow

Why this APG was not achieved: 

At the time of the performance plan update, NASA had not completed the final negotiation on the procurement 

the Origins Spectral Interpretation Resource Identification Security Regolith Explorer (OSIRIS-REx) mission. 

The final agreement resulted in a proposed extended Phase B for the OSIRIS-REx project, which moved the 

Preliminary Design Review (the APG milestone) beyond fiscal year 2012, with the planned completion of the 

Mission Definition Review in FY 2012 instead. NASA made this change to reduce risk to cost and schedule 

performance for the project.

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-5: Complete the OSIRIS-REx Preliminary Design Review (PDR).

FY14 PS-14-2: Complete the OSIRIS-REx Critical Design Review (CDR).

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-3: Complete the Discovery 12 mission concept studies.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Discovery 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None None None PS-12-3 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-2: Initiate the preliminary design for the Discovery 12 mission.

FY14 PS-14-3: Complete InSight Mission (Discovery 12) Critical Design Review.
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Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-6: Complete the Lunar 

Integration Review.

Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Systems 

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Lunar Quest

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None None None PS-12-6 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-4: Launch the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE).

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-18: Complete GRAIL mission success criteria.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Discovery 

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None 9PS3

Green

10PS03

Green

PS-11-7 

Green

PS-12-18

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.3.1: Provide national scientific capabilities through necessary 

skilled researchers and supporting knowledge base. (In support of objective 2.3.3: "Improve 

understanding of the processes that determine the history and future of habitability of 

environments on Mars and other solar system bodies.")

FY11 NASA provides the skilled researchers and supporting planetary science knowledge base 

necessary for the Nation’s scientific capabilities. 

Mars Science Laboratory Curiosity’s Roving Laboratory

On November 26, 2011, the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Curiosity rover launched from 

Cape Canaveral. During the eight-month journey to Mars, the Radiation Assessment 

Detector (RAD), an instrument designed to measure the radiation levels on Mars, measured 

the radiation dose and detected a solar flare during the transport to Mars. On August 6, 

2012, the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) imaged MSL’s Curiosity rover as it 

successfully descended and landed via the skycrane landing system. 

All of the science instruments on-board Curiosity are operating as expected. One of the 

earliest science highlights is from the Chemistry & Camera (ChemCam) instrument. 

ChemCam returned spectra from a basalt rock, demonstrating the first use of laser-based, 

active spectroscopy measurement for mineralogy identification on another planetary body. 

ChemCam imaged the ablated surface, providing magnified images of the fresh and 

Green

FY12

Green
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weathered surfaces. On the drive from the Bradbury landing site toward Mt. Sharp, 

Curiosity investigated several rock outcrops, indicative of a streambed. For more 

information on MSL science results, join Curiosity on the traverse to Glenelg. 

Martian Meteorites Show Macromolecular Carbon of Non-Biological Origin 

The source and nature of carbon on Mars have been a subject of intense speculation. Recent 

results of spectroscopy on Martian meteorites, spanning about 4.2 billion years of Martian 

history, show that they contain a type of carbon that formed at high-temperature (i.e. in 

molten rock or magma). The association of organic carbon within magmatic minerals 

indicates that Martian magmas favored precipitation of reduced carbon species during 

crystallization. The ubiquitous distribution of this form of organic carbon in Martian rocks 

is important for understanding the Martian carbon cycle and has implications for future 

missions to detect possible past Martian life.

Mars’ Interior as Wet as Earth’s

Scientists have determined that the amount of water in the interior of Mars is comparable to 

the amount of water in the interior of Earth. The researchers study OH, a proxy for water, in 

apatite. Apatite is a mineral formed at high temperature in a hydrated magma (magma and 

water), and found in Martian meteorites. Those meteorites containing apatite represent a 

range of both depleted (crustal) and enriched (mantle) material on Mars. Laboratory 

investigations of the water abundance needed to form apatite in synthetic rocks were 

compared with the two Martian meteorites. The water content needed to form apatite in 

these meteorites is similar to the amount of water found in Earth mantle rocks like basalts.

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-7: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding the processes that determine the 

history and future of habitability of environments on Mars and other solar system bodies. 

Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by external 

expert review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Multiple Programs

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE6 8PS06 9PS8 10PS09 PS-11-8 PS-12-7 

Green Green Green Green Green Green
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M&P-95

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update

PS-13-6: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding the processes that determine the 

history and future of habitability of environments on Mars and other solar system bodies. 

Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by external 

expert review.

FY14

PS-14-5: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding the processes that determine the 

history and future of habitability of environments on Mars and other solar system bodies. 

Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by external 

expert review.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-8: Complete the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Launch Readiness Review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Mars Exploration

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE5

Green

8PS05

Green

9PS4

Red

10PS06

Yellow

PS-11-9 

Green

PS-12-8 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 PS-14-6: Achieve mission success criteria for Mars Science Laboratory (MSL).

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.3.2: By 2015, launch at least two missions in support of objective 

2.3.3.

FY11 The purpose of this performance goal is to design, develop, and launch satellites in support 

of objective 2.3.3, as outlined in the NASA Science Mission Directorate’s 2010 Science 

Plan. On November 26, 2011, NASA launched the biggest, most ambitious Mars science 

mission ever, MSL, which carried the Curiosity rover to the surface of Mars. Enabled by 

numerous new technologies and advanced capabilities (including an entirely new Sky Crane 

landing system, a radioisotope-based power system, an advanced communications 

capability, autonomous robotic navigation technologies, and compact science 

instrumentation), MSL successfully landed on Mars on August 6. Shortly after landing, 

Curiosity was taking panoramic photos of its surroundings. Since then, it has been on its 

mission to determine if the planet has ever had an environment capable of supporting life. 

The second mission that will support this performance goal is the Mars Atmosphere and 

Volatile Evolution (MAVEN), planned for launch in late 2013. NASA completed the 

Systems Integration Review on June 28, 2012, giving the project the go-ahead to integrate 

the systems into the spacecraft bus and to start testing. MAVEN will orbit Mars to help 

determine how much of the Martian atmosphere has been lost over time. It will measure the 

current rate of atmospheric escape to space and gather enough information about the 

relevant processes to allow scientists to extrapolate backward in time.

Green

FY12

Green

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.
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Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-8: Complete the Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) Launch Readiness Review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Mars Exploration

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE5

Green

8PS05

Green

9PS4

Red

10PS06

Yellow

PS-11-9 

Green

PS-12-8 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14 No annual performance goal in FY14.

Comments

The Mars Science Laboratory spacecraft successfully launched on November 26, 2011. 

MSL’s rover, Curiosity, is in operation on Mars, where it is collecting data in support of 

performance goal 2.3.3.1 through FY 2014, when it will conclude its prime mission. At that 

time, NASA will evaluate whether the Mars Science Laboratory achieved its mission success 

criteria.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-9: Complete the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile

Integration Review.

Evolution Mission (MAVEN) Systems 

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Mars Exploration

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None None 10PS08

Green

PS-11-10

Green

PS-12-9 

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-7: Complete the Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN Mission (MAVEN) PreShip Review (PSR).

FY14 PS-14-7: Launch the MAVEN mission.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.4.1: Provide national scientific capabilities through necessary 

skilled researchers and supporting knowledge base. (In support of objective 2.3.4: "Improve 

understanding of the origin and evolution of Earth's life and biosphere to determine if there is or 

ever has been life elsewhere in the universe.")

FY11 NASA provides the skilled researchers and supporting planetary science knowledge base 

Green necessary for the Nation’s scientific capabilities. 

FY12 New Equatorial Lakes Appear on Titan

Observations from Cassini infrared spectra suggest a hydrocarbon lake (probably methane) 

Green

and a few small ponds present in the equatorial region of Titan. With the exception of Earth, 

Titan is the only solid object in the solar system to circulate liquids in a cycle of rain and 

evaporation. On Titan, the process is driven by methane rather than water. This cycle is 

expected to form lakes near the moon's poles, but not at its dune-covered equator, where 

Cassini measurements show that humidity levels are low and little rain falls to the surface. 
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M&P-97

Any surface liquid there should evaporate and be transported to the cooler poles, where it 

should condense as rain. The lake is approximately 60 kilometers long and 40 kilometers 

wide, and at least one meter deep. The shallower ponds resemble marshes on Earth, with 

knee- to ankle-level depths. Because equatorial lakes on Titan should evaporate over a 

period of just a few thousand years, the researchers argue that these ponds and lakes are 

being replenished by subsurface oases of liquid methane.

Earth’s History in Fossil Raindrops

For the first time, studies define a constraint on total atmospheric pressure for early Earth, 

and could dramatically improve climate models for this timeframe, changing researchers’ 

understanding of the planet at a time when life first arose. Researchers supported by the 

Exobiology element of the NASA Astrobiology Program have shown that fossil raindrop 

imprints constrained surface air density 2.7 billion years ago to less than twice modern 

levels. By studying the signatures of raindrops falling into volcanic ash, the researchers 

determined a relationship between the imprint size and raindrop impact momentum. 

Raindrop terminal velocity is dependent on air density, meaning that fossil raindrop imprints 

can provide direct information about the density of Earth’s early atmosphere. 

DNA Building Blocks Made in Space

NASA researchers found evidence that nucleobases, DNA components essential to life, 

were likely created in space. The findings support the theory that meteorite and comet 

impacts may have delivered a “kit” of ready-made materials from space to the early Earth, 

assisting the origins of life on this planet. Researchers also found abiotically produced 

“nucleobase-analogs” in the meteorites; these are extremely rare on Earth. The precursor 

nucleobases are present in space and demonstrate a possible mechanism for nucleobase 

generation in space.

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-11: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding the origin and evolution of life on 

Earth and throughout the biosphere to determine if there is or ever has been life elsewhere in the 

universe. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be evaluated by 

external expert review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Multiple Programs

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE4 8PS04 9PS5 10PS07 PS-11-11 PS-12-11

Green Green Green Green Green Green
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Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update

PS-13-8: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding the origin and evolution of life on 

Earth and throughout the biosphere to determine if there is or ever has been life elsewhere in 

the universe. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be 

evaluated by external expert review.

FY14

PS-14-8: Demonstrate planned progress in understanding the origin and evolution of life on 

Earth and throughout the biosphere to determine if there is or ever has been life elsewhere in 

the universe. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 Science Plan will be 

evaluated by external expert review.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.5.1: Provide national scientific capabilities through necessary 

skilled researchers and supporting knowledge base. (In support of objective 2.3.5: "Identify and 

characterize small bodies and the properties of planetary environments that pose a threat to 

terrestrial life or exploration or provide potentially exploitable resources.")

FY11 NASA provides the skilled researchers and supporting planetary science knowledge base 

necessary for the Nation’s scientific capabilities. 

NASA Near Earth Asteroid Survey

NASA and its partners maintain a watch for near-Earth objects, asteroids, and comets that 

pass close to Earth as part of an on-going effort to discover, catalog, and characterize these 

potentially hazardous objects. This fiscal year, asteroid search teams funded by NASA’s 

Near Earth Object Observation (NEOO) Program found another 21 asteroids larger than one 

kilometer in size with orbits coming within Earth’s vicinity. Asteroid search teams also 

found one more near-Earth comet and 896 smaller asteroids of less than one kilometer in 

average diameter, bringing the total number known of all sizes to 9,118. The high precision 

orbit predictions computed by NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory show that none of these 

objects is likely to hit Earth in the next century. An object designated 2011 AG5 currently 

has the highest chance of Earth impact, currently computed at one in 500 on February 5, 

2040. However, 1,330 (of which 154 are larger than 1 kilometer in diameter) are in orbits 

that could become a hazard in the more distant future and warrant continued monitoring.

Detailed Characterization of Potentially Hazardous Asteroid

During its November 2011 passage, researchers obtained physical properties of potentially 

hazardous asteroid 2005 YU55 from multiple observations made by Goldstone, Arecibo, the 

Very Long Baseline Array, and the Green Bank Telescope. Radar analysis led to accurate 

measurement of the asteroid’s albedo and spin period, and revealed a number of structures 

on the surface of the asteroid. High-resolution images showed concavities, a ridge near the 

asteroid's equator, and numerous features interpreted as decameter-scale boulders. The 

number of boulders on the surface is comparable to that seen on the asteroid 25143 Itokawa 

by the Hayabusa spacecraft. 

Automated Potential NEA Destinations Assessment

In a cooperative effort between the Goddard Space Flight Center’s Navigation and Mission 

Design Branch and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory’s NEO Program Office, a new capability 

was added to routine near-Earth asteroid (NEA) processing in March 2012 that assesses the 

accessibility for human and robotic spaceflight destinations for all NEAs as they are 

Green

FY12

Green
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-99

discovered. The assessment data is continuously updated automatically and made available 

to researchers and mission designers via a new section on NASA’s NEOO Program Web 

page “Accessible NEAs.” The goal is to identify NEAs that may be good targets for both 

human and robotic exploration missions. Any interested party also may go online to 

subscribe to a mailing list to receive a daily email notification of updated results. 

The automated NEA accessibility assessment system monitors the space flight accessibility 

of the latest discoveries from the NEO search teams with up to date orbits and daily email 

notifications. The system continuously updates a comprehensive publically available 

database of potential human and robotic space flight targets and their round-trip mission 

opportunities. The Web site also displays upcoming opportunities to observe those NEAs 

using ground-based telescopes and radar. The database of NEAs potentially suitable for 

human space exploration will naturally continue to grow in the months and years to come as 

more and more NEAs are discovered and observed.

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-12: Demonstrate planned progress in identifying and characterizing small bodies and the 

properties of planetary environments that pose a threat to terrestrial life or exploration or 

provide potentially exploitable resources. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 

Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Multiple Programs

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

7SSE8

Green

8PS08

Green

9PS9

Green

10PS10

Green

PS-11-12

Green

PS-12-12

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update

PS-13-9: Demonstrate planned progress in identifying and characterizing small bodies and the 

properties of planetary environments that pose a threat to terrestrial life or exploration or 

provide potentially exploitable resources. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 

Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

FY14

PS-14-9: Demonstrate planned progress in identifying and characterizing small bodies and the 

properties of planetary environments that pose a threat to terrestrial life or exploration or 

provide potentially exploitable resources. Progress relative to the objectives in NASA's 2010 

Science Plan will be evaluated by external expert review.

Reported Annual Performance

No annual performance goal in FY12 or trended performance.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing 

Program(s): Multiple Programs
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-100

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update No annual performance goal in FY13.

FY14

PS-14-10: Conduct research into mitigation strategies utilizing observed 

characteristics and properties of those small bodies that pose a threat to terrestrial 

life.

Reported Multi-Year Performance 

Multi-Year Performance Goal 2.3.5.2: Return data for selection of destinations in order to lower 

risk for human space exploration beyond low Earth orbit.

FY11 The routine processing and listing of accessible NEAs on the NASA NEOO Program Web 

site identifies and lists future observing opportunities for ground-based assets. These 

observing opportunities are used to obtain physical characterization information that could 

determine whether or not a particular NEA is suitable as a potential human destination. 

Ground-based sensors can provide details concerning the size, configuration, rotation rate, 

and composition of the NEA to help NASA mission planners and planetary scientists select 

the best targets for future human spaceflight missions. These opportunities are listed for 

optical and radar assets, which are used by the worldwide planetary astronomy community 

to perform physical characterization observations of these potentially accessible NEAs.

Several steps have been taken to aid the collection of physical characterization data on these 

potentially human accessible NEAs. Two presentations were held in 2012 to brief the 

international NEA observing community at the Lunar and Planetary Science Conference and 

the Division for Planetary Sciences Meeting about the new listing of accessible targets and 

their associated observing opportunities. Both of these meetings generated significant 

interest in these targets, and several observers expressed a desire to help NASA obtain 

physical characterization data on these potentially NEA destinations. Awareness of this new 

capability has led many observers to check routinely the list of accessible NEAs to plan and 

schedule telescope time for upcoming observation periods. In addition, daily emails of 

accessible NEAs are distributed and scanned for new discoveries, and if a promising target 

is immediately or soon-to-be observable, a request is sent out to the international observing 

community for physical characterization observations.

The NEOO Program pursued additional risk reduction efforts in coordination with the 

Human Exploration and Operation Mission Directorate’s Joint Robotic Precursor Activity:

• Increased resources for time on ground-based planetary radars at Goldstone, CA, and 

Arecibo, PR, which enables a five-fold increase in the number of NEAs observed and 

characterized for precise orbit, size, and rotation information. An upgrade to the Goldstone 

radar has increased the resolution that can be imaged down to four meters.

• Performed extensive analyses to develop several design reference missions for NEA 

human exploration including identification of additional investments required (i.e., concepts 

of operations, vehicle sizing, advanced propulsion) to expand number of viable NEAs to 

explore.

• Supported multiple analog field tests, such as Desert Research and Technology Studies 

(RATS) and NASA Extreme Environment Mission Operations (NEEMO), for NEA mission 

system and operational concept validation and began planning for near-term asteroid analog 

mission at the International Space Station. 

• Released a Request for Information from industry for design of an NEA detection 

instrument to be flown as a hosted secondary payload on geosynchronous satellites.

Green

FY12

Green
Management and Performance 

PERFORMANCE REPORTING AND PLANNING

M&P-101

Update to Multi-Year Performance Goal

FY13 Update This performance goal remains the same in FY13.

FY14 This performance goal remains the same in FY14.

Reported Annual Performance

PS-12-13: Demonstrate planned progress in characterizing potentially hazardous objects that are 

possible destinations for future human space exploration.

Contributing Theme: Planetary Science

Contributing Program(s): Multiple Programs

FY07 FY08 FY09 FY10 FY11 FY12

None None 9AC16

Green

10AC17

Green

PS-11-13

Green

PS-12-13

Green

Planned Annual Performance

FY13 Update PS-13-10: Demonstrate planned progress in characterizing potentially hazardous objects that 

are possible destinations for future human space exploration.

FY14 PS-14-11: Demonstrate planned progress in characterizing potentially hazardous objects that 

are possible destinations for future human space exploration.