IAA International Conference on Low-Cost Planetary Missions April 12–15, 1994 Conference summary report

The first IAA International Conference on Low-Cost Planetary Missions drew more than 300 scientists and engineers who shared in the conviction that missions to explore our solar system can be executed on shorter schedules and at much lower cost than previous ones. Participants related their experiences in developing and operating low-cost missions and described a variety of cost-saving approaches and techniques from which future missions could benefit. Meanwhile, others presented their plans for implementing future low-cost missions which could investigate phenomena from the Sun to Pluto and beyond. Although declining budgets for solar system exploration projects are a fact of life for most space-faring nations today, the results of this IAA Conference should give mission planners a high degree of confidence that vibrant programs of planetary research can still be implemented in this environment.