Push to Revive Pluto Mission May Mean Competition for JPL

摘要

For a planet that some astronomers argue is too small even to be called one, Pluto is asserting a surprisingly strong pull on Earth. An unusual coalition of scientists, activists, and politicians is pressuring NASA to rethink a September decision to put a 2004 mission on hold because of budget constraints. The growing clamor is shaking up the planetary science community, which is also preparing for a mission at mid-decade to Europa, a moon of Jupiter. The biggest impact may be felt at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena, California, which could face serious competition for the first time in decades on contracts to build planetary missions.