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NASA’s next major task is ambitious, perhaps too ambitious.

Our goal is to send a robot probe on Mars the size of a small SUV. Rover, called the Mars Science Laboratory will use the nuclear batteries, and can roam far-reaching and extensive collection of information on a set of powerful tools, including a laser evaporates.

However, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, responsible for building the spacecraft, now that it may need additional 100,000,000 U.S. dollars, together with the previous budget to meet the current launch schedule in September or October next year.

The total budget is tight, NASA did not have been easy choice. It can maintain the current schedule, make up the budget shortfall, the delay or cancellation of other planetary missions. Can be postponed or Mars Science Laboratory for a year or two, which will ease the pressure on short-term budget, but the agency said that the increase in the final 300,000,000 U.S. dollars or more price tag.

NASA may decide that enough, and the abolition of the task. However, this would be a waste of 1,500,000,000 U.S. dollars have been used to compress and institutions plan to explore Mars.

May be decided as soon as possible on Friday, when NASA science mission from the agency’s board of directors and administrator, Michael Langgelifen. Speaking at a press conference mission is scheduled for Friday afternoon.

“There will be a number of recommendations, he should do,” despite Dr. Griffin may not be immediately decided the fate of the mission, Brown said, Dwain, a spokesman for NASA.

Even in the most recent financial difficulties, the mission has cost at least more than 200,000,000 U.S. dollars, so that the total amount of 1,700,000,000 U.S. dollars, as well as the U.S. National Aeronautics and Space Administration had to take into account the financial year to cover cost overruns.

“The cupboard is a bare now, said:” Sean Solomon of the Carnegie Institution of Washington Kok, chairman of NASA’s Planetary Science Subcommittee of the Advisory Council. “And come up with more than 100,000,000 U.S. dollars have been really, really challenging.”

Last week, the U.S. space agency officials on the latest Mars Science Laboratory to the Subcommittee to provide feedback to the NASA planetary scientists in the planning of missions. The official, Dr. Solomon said, did not specify why the increase in the cost of the mission.

Mars Science Laboratory’s goal is very high, both in their technical requirements, and its scientific objectives. This will be weighing about 1800 pounds, or more than 4 times the opportunity, whether or courage, the two currently on Mars. The decay of plutonium pellets, rather than solar panels will provide enough power for larger and more advanced equipment in its 140 pounds heavier scientific payload.

However, the laboratory is too large and heavy to employ the cocoon of airbags bouncing cushion the landing of the Spirit and Opportunity. On the contrary, the engineers designed complete a new landing plan. After slow down the spacecraft’s parachute descent through the atmosphere, the rocket boosters fire, so that the spacecraft slow to a halt, and hovering in the air. Rover and then by reducing the surface of the winch. (Circled in part, the spacecraft will fly away and collapse.)

In his presentation, planetary science subcommittee, James L Green, director of NASA’s division of planetary sciences, he said, to make up for the new overruns, the agency may postpone or cancel the task as the Holy Grail and Ladee, This is a visit to the moon, Juneau or return to Jupiter and its satellites. However, such a step could start a domino effect will destroy the entire solar system.

Another option is to defer the Mars Science Laboratory launched a year and then park the spacecraft in orbit around the sun for a year, to Mars and the Earth once again closely aligned. This option, the spacecraft arrived at Mars two years later than originally planned, will increase by 300,000,000 U.S. dollars.

However, another option - an increase tens of millions of dollars in excess of one Dr. Green said in his presentation - will be a two-year delay in the launch.

Dr. Solomon said that he did not support the Subcommittee of the most severe choices: cancel. “We do not think this is a good use of NASA’s funds have been invested,” he said.

The other members of the Subcommittee, Kip V. Hodges, a professor of Earth and space exploration in the Arizona State University, said: “One of the things they want our opinion, this is an extremely important task? And the answer is absolutely sure The. ”

However, Dr. Hodges would like to know that opportunities may be lost Mars Science Laboratory of the growing costs.

“Over time,” he said, “When your fixed income, you have to think how far you can go to, even if this is an excellent mission.”