Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, Maryland 20771

ENGINEERING COLLOQUIUM

Monday, December 15, 2003 / 3:30 PM, Building 3 Auditorium

Bill Jeffrey

"Technical Roadmap to Reach the Outer Planets"

ABSTRACT -- Our exploration of the solar system is undergoing a gradual, yet fundamental shift. During the first 40 years of NASA's planetary exploration, the technology available and resources expended allowed for flyby missions of every planet with the exception of Pluto. In a few cases, orbital missions were executed (Venus, Mars, and Jupiter) and in even fewer cases, landings were made (Venus and Mars). To take the next step in exploration, which includes in situ operations and sample return missions requires tremendous improvements in three fundamental areas: transportation, power, and communications. These "infrastructure" components are inter-related and provide the backbone necessary to build a robust scientific exploration agenda - an agenda whose goal is ubiquitous and continuous exploration of every part of the solar neighborhood. We are clearly at the cusp of a new era - one dominated by in situ exploration of planets and solar system bodies previously thought unreachable. With reasonable and reliable technology investment, the outer planets can be reached and explored. Our understanding of the formation of the solar system - and our place in it - is likely to undergo a tremendous revision.

SPEAKER -- William Jeffrey is the Senior Director for Homeland and National Security and the Assistant Director for Space and Aeronautics at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Prior to joining the White House, he was at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), where he served as the Deputy Director for the Advanced Technology Office and Chief Scientist for the Tactical Technology Office. Prior to DARPA, he was the Assistant Deputy for Technology at the Defense Airborne Reconnaissance Office (DARO). Dr. Jeffrey has served on several national security review panels including efforts with the National Security Space Architect, National Reconnaissance Office, and other components of the intelligence community. Bill also chaired a national panel that developed a technology investment strategy for NASA's planetary missions, and served as Secretary for the Defense Science Board assessment on Information Superiority. Bill received his Ph.D. in Astronomy from Harvard University and his B.Sc. in Physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.